iowa<u+2019>s caucuses are the embodiment of retail politics, typically rewarding candidates who build support<u+2014>and enthusiasm<u+2014>one county at a time. social conservatives have asserted their influence in recent years, with conservative rick santorum narrowly edging out the more centrist mitt romney in 2012. but the state isn<u+2019>t a monolith, and demographic characteristics may help handicap the republican race.









data from the wall street journal/nbc news polls suggest a gop primary electorate defined by three broad lanes: a highly religious bloc that supports socially conservative candidates such as ted cruz and ben carson; a more moderate slice of voters with higher incomes and education levels who back <u+2018>establishment<u+2019> candidates like marco rubio and jeb bush; and a third constituency of donald trump supporters representing a secular, populist movement.









viewed through that lens, here<u+2019>s a look at where each type of candidate might build a winning coalition in iowa.









related article: how donald trump happened: the demographics behind his supporters <u+00bb>
the many faces of iowa<u+2019>s caucus voters
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