Image source, Reuters

By Brandon Livesay

BBC News, Des Moines, Iowa

As Iowa finds itself at the centre of a brutal winter storm, it also sits, momentarily, at the centre of US politics.

It's a position that voters here are used to finding themselves in - for more than 50 years, their state has been the first to pick the party nominees for president.

While the Democrats have changed their schedule this year, for Iowa Republicans Monday's caucuses offer the chance to fire the starting gun on the 2024 race and offer crucial momentum to their preferred candidate.

This weekend, political attack ads played out nearly constantly on the TV screens of bars and restaurants, while campaign posters could be spotted in snow-covered yards and foggy windows.

In conversations with dozens of Republican voters, border security and the economy were the issues that seemed front of mind for many. But with Donald Trump dominating the race, it was rarely long before the former president's name was mentioned by his supporters and opponents alike.

"I'm pretty sure Trump's going to win 'cos everybody, most of the people, I talk to are for him," said Joe Van Ginkel, as he ploughed snow on a frigid morning.

It was the second blizzard of the week to hit Madison County, which lies south of the state capital Des Moines. Mr Van Ginkel is chair of the county's Republican Party and like many local party officials, supports Mr Trump.