At the Iowa caucuses tonight, the first Republican voters are choosing who they want to face President Obama in 2012. While they assign no delegates for the nominating convention, the caucuses are the first official event in the 2012 season.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is the national frontrunner but is less popular in Iowa, where the GOP is more dominated by social conservatives and evangelicals.  Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Michele Bachmann are vying to be his chief challenger. And the dark horse is Rep. Ron Paul, with his libertarian leanings, who is on his third run for the White House but has created a strong web of support in Iowa.

And without further ado, here is our live blog of the 2012 Iowa Caucus: