In Iowa, potential GOP candidates compete for 2016 spotlight

READ: Romney, Bush to meet in Utah

With Iowa the first state to vote in the presidential nominating season, it’s considered a must-stop for White House hopefuls on both sides of the aisle, and this weekend gives 2016 players a chance to roll out their message to core caucus-goers, strategists say.

Among those expected to speak are New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, renowned neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina.

Notably, the top two potential contenders in the GOP race — Jeb Bush and Mitt Romney — are bypassing the event, both citing scheduling conflicts.

Santorum, who battled Romney late into the 2012 primary season, tweeted out photos of his family yesterday explaining why they were marching. The former senator from Pennsylvania barely won the Iowa caucuses in 2012, edging out Romney in a delayed vote count—Romney was initially declared the winner—by 34 votes.

Like Christie, some Republicans have also taken on criminal justice reform and anti-poverty policies as key talking points in their platforms. We’ll see how potential candidates tackle those issues this weekend, especially as the party on the national level has made efforts to appeal to a wider audience.

Several of the potential candidates plan to stay longer in Iowa. Huckabee has book signings on Sunday in Cedar Rapids and Windsor Heights, Iowa, while Perry is staying until Monday and Santorum until Tuesday for multiple events throughout the state.

CNN