Brownback had billed himself as the most consistent conservative in the race and, like several other GOP contenders, stressed he had always been pro-life.

Several key figures in the pro-life movement were by Brownback's side in Ames, including the brother of the late Terri Schiavo. The brain-damaged Florida woman became the center of a national debate on the right to life when her family fought unsuccessfully to keep her husband from having her feeding tube removed.

Brownback told the Deseret Morning News that his supporters were motivated by his "clear message" on abortion, a reference to what critics have called Romney's flip-flopping on the issue. "It's hard to hear it if it's not consistent."

Brownback literally had positioned himself as the chief challenger to Romney Saturday by spending extra to erect his huge, air-conditioned tent right in front of the basketball arena — right next to Romney's prime spot on the coliseum grounds, which cost a reported $25,000.

There was no mistaking Romney's supporters Saturday. His campaign outfitted them in bright yellow "Team Mitt" straw poll T-shirts and gave them paper credentials to wear around their necks.

But the free gear wasn't enough to guarantee Karla Clendenen was going to vote to Romney when it counts, in Iowa's party caucuses.

"I'm keeping my options open," said Clendenen, a retired federal employee from Carlisle, a town near Des Moines. She said that while she was voting for Romney in the straw poll, she might switch to Giuliani in the caucus because he seems stronger on defense.

Richard Anderson of Coralville declined to say which candidate got his vote, even though he was wearing a Brownback sticker on his shirt and said likes the Kansas senator's Midwestern values.

"I voted but not necessarily for Brownback," Anderson said, describing the straw poll as an opportunity to learn more about the other Republicans in the race. "There are so many

candidates here, it's hard to get committed early on."

It wasn't the state fair — that's in Des Moines. But there were similarities, such as a ferris wheel operated by an organization promoting a national sales tax and booths promoting various causes and selling souvenirs.

The candidates, of course, added to the carnival atmosphere with their tents featuring barbecue and nearly nonstop entertainment from area bands. Romney and Brownback even set up elaborate play areas for children complete with inflatable slides, games and a rock-climbing wall.

And while most candidates only gave speeches to their supporters throughout the day, Huckabee played bass guitar with his band, Capitol Offense. Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. played keyboards with the band at a recent meeting of the nation's governors.

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E-mail: lisa@desnews.com