Scenes from the Iowa Caucus Circus

From a flurry of presidential stump speeches to Occupy protests outside political headquarters, the build-up to the 2012 Iowa caucuses captured the attention of media around the world. Then it was all over in the blink of an eye as GOP favorite Mitt Romney edged out social conservative rival Rick Santorum by just eight votes, with Ron Paul placing third as the horserace moves on to New Hampshire.