The GOP race for the White House picks up the pace next week with the Iowa caucuses, the first vote in the presidential race. For this reason, the Iowa vote gets lots of media attention. The Hawkeye State has a population of just 3 million; Republicans are hoping to have a caucus turnout of around 100,000 people. So why do we give so much credence to Iowa?

Guest:

Caroline Tolbert is a political science professor at the University of Iowa and author of "Why Iowa?"