Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has been atop most public opinion polls in Iowa for the past several months, but Romney’s downplaying the idea that he will win the Iowa Caucuses.
"I’ve never been here before. This is the first time," Romey said with a laugh during an interview with Radio Iowa. "I haven’t run for president before. It’s too hard for me to tell."
Romney is on a campaign swing through Iowa with stops in seven Iowa cities over three days. This morning, he’s in Marshalltown, then Romney will speak in Waterloo over the noon hour. Romney has spent more time campaigning in Iowa than any other Republican candidate and the number of paid staff Romney has in Iowa is only eclipsed by the Democratic candidates. Still, Romney’s reluctant to express confidence in his chances on January 3rd.
"I can’t tell you where it’s going to come out. I committed to the Iowa process from the Ames Straw Poll all the way through the Caucuses. I’ve gotten good support," Romney said. "I don’t know if I’m going to come out first, second or third, but I think I’m going to come out somewhere in that grouping and hope I get the kind of support I need to bolster my campaign to receive the nomination."