Home | MAKUPFRONT: UP FRONT WITH ROBERT MAK

First take on the day’s political news from the Up Front team.

Up front today:  Iowa voters caucus tonight at 5 p.m. our time.  We should have first results shortly after 6 p.m.

Will Iowa’s “value voters” send a message?  As Iowa voters prepare to caucus, a large block of the Republican party (60% or so) could be described as social conservatives—making decisions tonight on where the Republican candidates stand on social issues like gay marriage and abortion.  Will they get behind one candidate (i.e. Santorum who is surging in the late polls), or will they fracture?

One influential pastor we met earlier when filing Up Front from Iowa is Michael Demastus with the Fort Des Moines Church of Christ.  Watch our new interview with him—it’s a very interesting take on what social conservatives are looking for tonight.

How the caucus works: A handy little graphic from the Des Moines Register on how the Iowa caucuses will actually work tonight.  Expect roughly 120,000 to attend the Republican caucuses, which should last about an hour.

How representative are these early states?  If this year’s national election is all about the economy, a thought-provoking tweet from NBC deputy political director Mark Murray.  “The most jaw-dropping numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire? The unemployment rates in both states — 5.7% in IA, 5.2% in NH.”