C-SPAN is following the Republican presidential candidates at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines and at the Iowa Republican Straw Poll in Ames over the next couple of days.
Mitt Romney was first up at the Des Moines Register’s soap box booth at the Iowa State Fair. During a question and answer session with the audience after his speech, he was confronted by questioners on how to save social security, medicare and medicaid without any loss of benefits. He again stated that he will not raise taxes.
Tomorrow, our coverage continues from the State Fair at 11:30am (ET) with remarks by Herman Cain, Thaddeus McCotter, Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Debbie Wasserman Schultz is also scheduled to speak.
Saturday, we present LIVE coverage of the Iowa Republican Straw Poll in Ames, beginning at Noon (ET) with a preview program on the history and the impact of the 32-year old event, which is also a fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party.
The straw poll begins at 1pm (ET) from the campus of Iowa State University at the Hilton Coliseum. It traditionally takes place in August in years without an incumbent Republican president running for re-election. Iowa residents 18 and over can vote for one of the 9 Republican candidates on the straw poll ballot, but only six will speak at the event including Bachmann, Cain, McCotter, Paul, Pawlenty, and Santorum. Newt Gingrich, John Huntsman and Mitt Romney will only appear on the ballot.
Viewers can join in the conversation by calling in during our coverage and on C-SPAN's Facebook page as well as following us on twitter.
These events will also be live on C-SPAN Radio and c-span.org. For more information, visit our Campaign 2012 page.