2012 GOP presidential candidates making campaign stops

As the primary season kicks into gear, Republican presidential hopefuls are hitting the road and meeting voters in Iowa , New Hampshire and other early primary states.

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Oct. 10, 2011

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, center, greets members of the audience at the conclusion of a campaign stop at a VFW Post in Milford, N.H.

Steven Senne / AP

Oct. 10, 2011

Republican presidential candidate and Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), with her back to the camera, holds a news conference outside of her bus at New England College in Henniker, N.H.

Cheryl Senter / AP

Oct. 8, 2011

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) addresses the Family Research Council's Values Voter Summit in Washington. Paul won the Values Voter straw poll.

Manuel Balce Ceneta / AP

Oct. 10, 2011

Republican presidential candidate and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman talks to the media after holding a town hall meeting at the Merrimack Valley Railroad Company in Tilton, N.H.

Cheryl Senter / AP

Oct. 7, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry addresses the Values Voter Summit in Washington.

JONATHAN ERNST / REUTERS

Oct. 8, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a GOP presidential contender, speaks at McCarthy & Bailey's Irish Pub in Sioux City, Iowa.

Jim Lee / AP

Oct. 7, 2011

Herman Cain's appeal as a presidential candidate is on full display Friday as he arrives at the Costco in Arlington for a promotional event for his new autobiography, "This is Herman Cain!: My Journey to the White House."

Melina Mara / THE WASHINGTON POST

Oct. 7, 2011

Cain signed more than 350 books during the event.

Melina Mara / THE WASHINGTON POST

Oct. 7, 2011

Cain still faces major challenges as an inexperienced, unvetted and under-funded candidate, but many voters here said he has a certain intangible quality that the other GOP hopefuls lack. “He makes us feel excited,” said Larry Adams, a political consultant from Washington. “He’s got the juice.”

Melina Mara / THE WASHINGTON POST

Oct. 7, 2011

Cain fixes his jacket while waiting in the green room before delivering a speech at the Values Voters Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington. “My message of common-sense solutions is resonating with people,” Cain said in an interview.

Melina Mara / THE WASHINGTON POST

Oct. 7, 2011

After speaking at the Values Voters Summit, Cain will make two campaign stops in Virginia.

Melina Mara / THE WASHINGTON POST

Oct. 5, 2011

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, center, sits for lunch with Danny Selnick, Vice President for The Public Policy Wire, left, and Melissa Charbonneau of New Hook Media, Speakers Committee Chair, at the National Press Club in Washington.

Carolyn Kaster / AP

Oct. 5, 2011

Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsma Jr., left, walks with Victor Ashe, the former Knoxville mayor and former ambassador to Poland, during a fundraising lunch in Knoxville, Tenn.

Paul Efird / AP

Oct. 4, 2011

Bachmann, center, prays with audience members after a news conference set up by a group called the Faith and Family Council in Des Moines.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 30, 2011

Texas Gov. Rick Perry holds up an "Ax the Tax" prop, which was used by former New Hampshire governor Meldrim Thompson, during a campaign stop in Derry, N.H.

Charles Krupa / AP

Sept. 30, 2011

Republican presidential candidate, Ron Paul breaks from campaigning for president to ride a bike in Concord, N.H. Four months before initial voting, Paul is proving to be a force in the 2012 contest and his libertarian leanings are energizing a small though growing group of passionate conservatives. Antagonist of the Federal Reserve and advocate for the gold standard, the fiery message he's preached for decades is resonating now with Americans concerned about the nation's debt.

Jim Cole / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Republican presidential candidate and former House speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, arrive at his Buckhead, Ga., headquarters to discuss his new 21st Century Contract with America in a press conference. Gingrich said he and fellow Georgian Herman Cain are the two candidates with momentum.

Curtis Compton / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney bows his head during applause while speaking at a town meeting at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, N.H.

Cheryl Senter / AP

Sept. 28, 2011

Mitt Romney talks with audience members after holding a town meeting at Saint Anselm College.

Cheryl Senter / AP

Sept. 24, 2011

Jon Huntsman Jr. listens to waiter Will Cossey of Merrimack, N.H., at Joey's Diner in Amherst, N.H.

Cheryl Senter / AP

Sept. 24, 2011

Newt Gingrich speaks to delegates before a straw poll during the Republican Party’s Florida Presidency 5 Convention in Orlando.

John Raoux / AP

Sept. 24, 2011

Romney bows his head during his address to the Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island, Mich.

Carlos Osorio / AP

Sept. 20, 2011

Bachmann looks at hanging beef carcasses with owner Kent Wiese at a plant tour of Amend Packing Co.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 20, 2011

Bachmann gets a lesson in meat cutting from owner Kent Wiese during a plant tour of the Amend Packing Co. in Des Moines.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Sept. 17, 2011

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) is escorted to a ballroom to speak to his supporters during the California Republican Party Convention in Los Angeles.

Kevork Djansezian / GETTY IMAGES

Sept. 12, 2011

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) arrives for a Republican presidential debate in Tampa, Fla.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Sept. 14, 2011

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney addresses a town hall meeting in Sun Lakes, Ariz.

Ross D. Franklin / AP

Sept. 14, 2011

Supporters listen as Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney speaks during a town hall meeting in Sun Lakes, Ariz. Romney continued to draw a sharp contrast with his top foe for the GOP presidential nomination, Texas Gov. Rick Perry.

JOSHUA LOTT / REUTERS

Sept. 5, 2011

Five-month-old Mallory Blais gets the requisite campaign-trail kiss from former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr., who was in Salem, N.H. along with other GOP hopefuls for the annual Salem/Windham Republican Labor Day picnic.

Justin Sullivan / GETTY IMAGES

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain, left, and Fox News host Sean Hannity meet up at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines on Aug. 12.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Texas Gov. Rick Perry greets supporters as he leaves a Sept. 5 town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) at Horry-Georgetown Technical College in Conway, S.C.

Willis Glassgow / AP

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) says hello to a supporter after speaking at a Tea Party Express rally at Des Moines's Waterworks Park on Aug. 31.

Steve Pope / GETTY IMAGES

During a campaign visit to McCandless International Trucks in Las Vegas on Sept. 6, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney outlines his economic platform.

Julie Jacobson / AP

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum speaks at a campaign event at the Beacon Drive In restaurant in Spartanburg, S.C., on Aug. 26.

JOHN BYRUM / AP

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich takes a question from 13-year-old Beth Borchik during a town hall meeting in Pasadena, Calif., on Sept. 6.

Jae C. Hong / AP

Former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr. chats with Katherine Swett as he orders a takeout lunch in Alton, N.H., on Sept. 4, 2011.

Jim Cole / AP

Herman Cain speaks to the media after taking part in the American Principles Project Palmetto Freedom Forum in Columbia, S.C., on Sept. 5.

Mary Ann Chastain / AP

Gov. Rick Perry of Texas attends a house party in Manchester, N.H., on Sept. 3.

Jim Cole / AP

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) takes questions at a town hall meeting hosted by Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) at Trident Technical College in North Charleston, S.C., on Aug. 25.

Brett Flashnick / AP

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney greets the crowd after his remarks at McCandless International Trucks in Las Vegas on Sept. 6.

Ethan Miller / GETTY IMAGES

Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) speaks at a town hall meeting at New England College in Henniker, N.H., on Sept. 1.

Jim Cole / AP

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum mingles with the crowd at a clambake hosted by the Grafton County Republican Committee in Rumney, N.H., on Aug. 21.

Jim Cole / AP

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich, center, leaves a town hall meeting in Pasadena on Sept. 6.

Jae C. Hong / AP

Rick Perry

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, second from left, talks business with Chris Banas, left, and Cliff Gabay, executives at Resonetics in Nashua, N.H., as he toured their facility before a roundtable discussion Aug. 17.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Rick Perry

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, with his wife, Anita, at left, speaks to New Englanders at the Politics and Eggs breakfast in Bedford, N.H.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jon Huntsman Jr.

Former Republican governor Jon Huntsman Jr. of Utah looks at a Winchester rifle at Riley's Gun shop as he tests the waters for a possible 2012 presidential run on May 21 in Hookset, N.H. He officially announced he was running in June.

Jim Cole / AP

Newt Gingrich

Republican presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich speaks at the New Hampshire Republican Party's "Live Free or Die Speaker Series" at Piccolo Italia Ristorante on April 20 in Manchester, N.H.

Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images

Mitt Romney

Republican front-runner Mitt Romney enters the Littleton Diner to speak to voters in Littleton, N.H., on Aug. 16.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney sits with voters eating lunch at the Puritan Backroom Diner in Manchester, N.H., on Aug. 16.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Ron Paul

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, (R-Tex.) has his picture taken following his announcement for his candidacy for U.S. president May 12, at Exeter Town Hall in Exeter, N.H.

Darren McCollester / Getty Images

Newt Gingrich

Gingrich shakes hands while meeting employees during a campaign stop at Spectrum Marketing in Manchester, N.H., on July 25.

Jim Cole / AP

Jon Huntsman Jr.

Republican presidential candidate and former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr. takes questions during a meeting with the Nashua Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 5 in Nashua, N.H.

Jim Cole / AP

Mitt Romney

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney speaks to a packed crowd during a town-hall meeting at the VFW in Nashua, N.H., on Aug.8.

Jim Cole / AP

Ron Paul

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) gives a speech after announcing his plans to seek the Republican nomination for president at a town hall May 13 in Exeter, N.H.

Jim Cole / AP

Michele Bachman

Republican presidential candidate and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks at the Polk County Republican Road to the White House event in Des Moines.

Brian Frank / Reuters

Ron Paul

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) signs a yard sign for Linda Stolba of Cedar Rapids during a campaign stop Aug. 2 at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Iowa City, Iowa.

Brian Ray / AP

Herman Cain

Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain speaks during the "'Energy Independence Day Tea Party" rally on Independence Mall in Philadelphia on July 4.

Joseph Kaczmarek / AP

Newt Gingrich

Former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich speaks to a filled gymnasium during a meet-and-greet for Republican presidential contenders at Clear Creek Amana High School in Tiffin, Iowa, on Aug. 5.

David Scrivner / AP

Mitt Romney

In Ohio, Romney speaks in the warehouse at Screen Machine Industries during a campaign stop July 27.

Jay LaPrete / AP

Rick Santorum

Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum speaks to residents in a coffee shop Aug. 8 in Ames, Iowa.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Michele Bachmann

Bachmann reacts as she steps off her campaign bus before speaking to residents during a meeting on Aug. 8 in Atlantic, Iowa. Bachmann won the Iowa straw poll on Aug. 13.

Charlie Neibergall / AP

Jon Huntsman

Huntsman speaks during the Orange County Republican Party's Lincoln Day Dinner in Orlando on July 30.

Phelan M. Ebenhack / AP

Herman Cain

Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain talks to reporters as dozens of tea party supporters rally near the U.S. Capitol against raising the debt limit July 27.

Jonathan Ernst / Reuters

Rick Santorum

Rick Santorum speaks to a filled gymnasium during a meet-and-greet for Republican presidential contenders at Clear Creek Amana High School in Tiffin, Iowa on Aug. 5.

David Scrivner / AP

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney, accompanied by his wife, Ann Romney, in Manchester, N.H. on Aug. 12, at a house party given by a Republican activist.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

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