Student News 学生新闻 2012.01.03.docVIP

(CNN Student News) -- January 3, 2012CARL AZUZ, HOST, CNN STUDENT NEWS: Hello, and a very happy new year. I`m Carl Azuz, welcoming you to the first CNN Student News program of 2012. Hope y`all had great holidays and that you`re ready to dive back into the headlines.First up, today marks the first major political event on the U.S. presidential campaign trail this year. It`s the Iowa caucuses. President Obama is likely the Democratic nominee, but which Republican will ultimately run against him? That`s what`s going to be decided by these primaries and caucuses.(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)AZUZ (voice-over): The Republican candidates have been campaigning for months. Now the voters will start to weigh in. Some states hold primaries. That`s where each voter casts a single private ballot. Other states have public meetings called caucuses.In Iowa, candidates or their representatives can make speeches at these caucuses to try to rally some last-minute support. Then voters pick which candidates they prefer. Sometimes they write it down on a piece of paper. Other times, it`s a show of hands.(END VIDEO CLIP)AZUZ: Three other states are holding primaries in January, starting with New Hampshire next week. South Carolina and Florida are later on in the month, but Iowa gets to go first with its caucuses today.And the question you might be asking is how much influence does the Hawkeye State have on the race for the White House. Jessica Yellin is going to look back at the impact of Iowa`s caucuses on some past presidential campaigns.(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)JESSICA YELLIN, CNN REPORTER (voice-over): In Iowa, a win can thrust a candidate into the national spotlight.BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you, Iowa.YELLIN (voice-over): While a loss can kill a campaign`s momentum. Just ask Phil Gramm --PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PHIL GRAMM: I want to congratulate the other candidates --YELLIN (voice-over): -- or Howard Dean.PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE HOWARD DEAN: And