NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa -- Mitt Romney wrapped up the last of three events in Iowa Wednesday by permitting himself a rare moment of giddiness.
"This is going to be so much fun," he told an audience of roughly 600 Iowans in a warehouse. "Why don't we just caucus right now?"
Wednesday was a very good day for Romney, and his comment reflected both excitement about a growing sense of enthusiasm for his candidacy as well as potential anxiety about whether there is enough time between now and Jan. 3 for Iowa Republicans to change their minds and disappoint him like they did in 2008.
It appears, however, that the former Massachusetts governor is not likely to be embarrassed here the way he was four years ago. Instead, the state may be a major stepping stone to Romney clinching the Republican nomination. A CNN/Time poll out Wednesday afternoon showed Romney leading the field with 25 percent in Iowa, up from 20 percent a month ago.
The primary process has chewed up Romney's rivals one by one, leaving him perched at the head of the pack with Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), who may still do very well in Iowa but who will likely never be accepted by the majority of Republicans because of his views on foreign policy. Paul has also come under fire recently for racist comments that appeared in newsletters that bore his name in the '80s and '90s.
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