On Saturday, prominent Republicans with presidential aspirations will pay tribute in Des Moines to U.S. Rep. Steve King, an outspoken Iowa conservative who wants same-sex marriage to be a pivotal issue in the 2012 race.
King's all-day conference is the second time this month that some potential GOP contenders have gathered at the behest of Iowa's social conservatives, underscoring the movement's early prominence in next year's GOP caucuses.
"They've taken the initiative, the lead and are sort of in charge of inviting and escorting presidential candidates in Iowa," said Steffen Schmidt, political science professor at Iowa State University in Ames.
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