The news hasn't been good for Michele Bachmann, who has suffered terrible showings in the polls and high-profile staff defections, but you wouldn't know it from watching her campaign.

MPR follows her in her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa, where she's trying to sway undecided voters and get some much-needed momentum to continue her campaign after the Iowa caucuses. The Associated Press says a poor showing could doom her campaign.

Republicans are gathering tonight to decide a contest that still seems very much up for grabs. The Associated Press says recent polls have pegged Mitt Romney and Ron Paul at the top in Iowa. The Des Moines Register calls it a "dead heat" among Romney, Paul and Rick Santorum. Still, more than a third of likely caucus-goers haven't even made up their minds.

So what's the big deal about the Iowa caucuses anyway? The contest is essentially just a statewide straw poll, but timing and tradition make it significant, according to ABC News.

Why not hold our own straw poll: Looking at the Republican presidential contenders, who would you pick and why? Share your thoughts below.