First votes cast in Iowa in Republican race

JUDGMENT day dawned for Republican contenders vying to take on Barack Obama in November’s presidential election, with a pivotal vote in Iowa set to dramatically reduce the field of contenders.

The mostly rural heartland state’s caucus early this morning was the first formal vote of the race for the White House against the backdrop of a sour, job-hungry US economy that weighs heavily on Obama’s bid for a second term.

Polls showed the race in Iowa turning into a three-man contest among front-runner Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum, who was quickly gaining ground with voters in the state.