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All eyes on Trump vs. Cruz on Iowa caucus night

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[h=4]All eyes on Trump vs. Cruz on Iowa caucus night[/h]Iowa's evening caucuses will set the contours of the race for GOP nomination.

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Iowa is immersed in events as presidential candidates attempt to gain last-minute supporters before the first votes are cast. VPC


Donald Trump speaks during a campaign event on Feb. 1, 2016, in Waterloo, Iowa.(Photo: Paul Sancya, AP)


WEST DES MOINES, Iowa —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Donald Trump and Ted Cruz raced to the wire Monday in Iowa, where evening caucuses will set the contours of the battle for the Republican presidential<span style="color: Red;">*</span>nomination.
"Today is so important," Trump told backers during a morning rally<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in Waterloo. "This is the beginning of taking our country back."
Later, during a rally in Cedar Rapids, Trump said a victory would send the "great message" that "we're not going to take it anymore."
Cruz, meanwhile, wrapped up his tour of all 99 Iowa counties Monday with a visit to Jefferson.
”People are frustrated with the career politicians in Washington who have left the American people behind," Cruz said in a statement. "They are uniting behind our campaign because together as conservatives we can work to restore this country to the principles that made it great.”
While recent polls give Trump a slight lead over the Texas senator in Iowa, Cruz told backers he sees a statistical tie as voters head for<span style="color: Red;">*</span>caucus locations<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on Monday night.
"It all comes down to turnout, who shows up tonight at 7 p.m.,” Cruz said.
Other Republican candidates — including Marco Rubio, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, and Carly Fiorina —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>fought mainly for third place in Iowa. All hope a better-than-expected finish here will spark their efforts in the next Republican delegate contest,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9.
The caucuses capped an extraordinary<span style="color: Red;">*</span>campaign in which Trump and Cruz attracted support by<span style="color: Red;">*</span>running against the Republican establishment as well as President Obama.
The businessman who rose to the fame in the 1980s as a media-savvy developer, Trump entered the Republican race in June by denouncing Mexican immigrants who are<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in the U.S. illegally, calling most of them criminals and accusing the Mexican government of encouraging<span style="color: Red;">*</span>them to enter<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the United States. The Mexican government denied it, and Hispanic groups stage demonstrations at many Trump rallies.
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USA TODAY
It’s about to get real: What you need to know about the Iowa caucuses




The immigration issue<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and his<span style="color: Red;">*</span>denunciations of "stupid" politicians who are ruining the country<span style="color: Red;">*</span>helped Trump expand his lead nationally and in early voting states<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— an edge that was further solidified in the wake of terrorist attacks<span style="color: Red;">*</span>keep<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in Paris and San Bernardino,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Calif., that elevated national security as a top concern for voters.
While attacking the government's counter-terrorism polices, Trump<span style="color: Red;">*</span>also proposed a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States. That plan<span style="color: Red;">*</span>drew criticism from Republican opponents as well as national and international officials.
Cruz, meanwhile, focused his campaign<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on Iowa and southern states holding early primaries, targeting their high numbers of religious conservatives. Religious conservatives have cast more than half the votes in past Republican caucuses in Iowa.
USA TODAY
Cruz's Iowa bid fueled by evangelicals, religious conservatives




In the beginning, Trump and Cruz treated each other with deference on the campaign trail, even as they chased similar pools of voters.
That changed as Cruz caught and eventually passed Trump in Iowa polls.
The businessman<span style="color: Red;">*</span>responded with a torrent of criticism directed at the Texan. Trump questioned whether Cruz is even eligible for the presidency, citing his birth in Canada.
Cruz, arguing that he is eligible because his mother was a U.S. citizen, responded by questioning Trump's commitment to conservatism, citing<span style="color: Red;">*</span>his past support for Democratic<span style="color: Red;">*</span>candidates and causes.
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Ted Cruz speaks to supporters during a campaign stop in Des Moines on Jan. 31, 2016.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Craig Lassig, EPA)

Throughout the campaign, Trump methodically went after any GOP candidate who challenged him. He first went after the well-funded Jeb Bush, branding the son and brother of previous presidents as a "low-energy" candidate. When retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson rose in the polls. Trump also attacked his<span style="color: Red;">*</span>energy level as well as aspects of his life story.
The billionaire also took on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Democratic critics, protesters, and journalists during his tumultuous campaign.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Reflecting his hyper-aggressive style Monday in Cedar Rapids,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Trump said security warned him that someone in the crowd might throw a tomato at him.
USA TODAY
Trump makes final pitch to Iowans ahead of caucuses




"If you see somebody getting ready to throw a tomato ... knock the crap out of them," Trump said.
The billionaire offered to pay legal fees if a fight broke out, though none did.
Unlike the earlier Waterloo event, an anti-Trump protester did try to interrupt the candidate before being escorted out by security.
While urging the crowd to vocally drown out the protester, Trump also asked: "Do you have a tomato?"
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