November 30, 2015 - With just a little over two months to the Iowa Caucuses on February 1, 2016, Republican and Democratic candidates are heading into the time when the voters will finally get to weigh in on the race.

For the Republicans an average of polls for Iowa finds New York Businessman Donald Trump in the lead with 26.7% followed by Dr. Ben Carson with 20%. In third place is Senator Ted Cruz of Texas with 18.3% followed by Senator Marco Rubio of Florida wit 12.3%. For now Trump , Carson , Cruz and Rubio are in a four man race in Iowa as they are the only Republican challengers in double digits.

Despite his high name recognition former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who at one time was the front runner for the nomination, is at 4.7% in Iowa followed by former CEO Caryl Fiorina at 3.7%. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky is at 3% followed by by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie at 2.3%.

The winner of the 2008 Iowa Caucus former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is at 1.7% followed by the 2012 GOP winner of the Iowa Caucus former Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania with 1.3%. Also at 1.3% is Ohio Governor  John Kasich followed by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina with 0.7%.

On the Democratic side former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has the support of 52% of those polled followed by Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont with 41%. In third place is former Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley with 4%.

In New Hampshire, the first primary in the nation scheduled for February 9, 2016, Trump is solidly in command with 26% followed by a distant second of Rubio at 12.5%. In third place is Dr. Ben Carson with 10.5% followed by Cruz with 9.5.

In fifth place with 7.8% is Kasich followed by Bush with 7.5%. Next up is Christie with 5.3% followed by Paul with 4.3%. Also at 4.3% is Fiorina. At 1% each is Huckabee and Graham.

As Iowa and New Hampshire loom closer , the candidates can be expected to intensify their advertising and campaigning. For many of these lower polling candidates the time is drawing near where they need to either  move  up in the polls or begin to contemplate placing their presidential campaign buttons in a museum.

On the Democratic side in New Hampshire  it is a far closer race at the moment as Clinton has the support of 45% followed by Sanders with 40.7% and O'Malley with 3.7%.

The next big event for the Republicans will be on December 15, 2015 when they will debate in Las Vegas. The Democrats will follow that up with a debate in New Hampshire on December 19, 2015.