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Retired Air Force Capt. Eric Grote attends a "Salute to the Military" event in Des Moines, Iowa, where Ron Paul spoke.

Becky Lettenberger/NPR

Retired Air Force Capt. Eric Grote attends a "Salute to the Military" event in Des Moines, Iowa, where Ron Paul spoke.

A claim by Ron Paul's presidential campaign, and confirmed by the fact-check website PolitiFact, asserts that the Texas congressman has received more donations from active military personnel than the other GOP candidates combined.

That's intriguing, given that Paul is the only candidate calling for significant cuts in military (not defense, he says) funding, the closing of overseas bases, and the use of military force "very sparingly."

NPR photographer Becky Lettenberger and I headed to the Iowa State Fairgrounds this week to speak with members of the military attending Paul's "Salute to the Military."

Among the boisterous crowd of well over 500 people who gathered in the cavernous Knapp Learning Center to listen to Paul, we found an active military man and two veterans who told us why the candidate's military message resonated with them.

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Potential caucus-goers Janet Erwin, center, and Celma Higgins attend a campaign event for Texas Gov. Rick Perry in Indianola, Iowa.

Becky Lettenberger/NPR

Potential caucus-goers Janet Erwin, center, and Celma Higgins attend a campaign event for Texas Gov. Rick Perry in Indianola, Iowa.

As we continued our Iowa travels in the days leading up to next week's presidential caucuses here, NPR photographer Becky Lettenberger and I have been struck by the utter seriousness of the state's Republican voters.

Presidential caucus seasons past have often been marked by fun and some frivolity at campaign events: Funny T-shirts and hats, jokes and punch lines offered up by candidates, a sense of hope and anticipation.

Not so this year. Republican voters — especially the undecided ones we've been seeking out — are dead serious, not easily moved to applause, and pressing for answers as thoughtful as their questions, and signs they've found a candidate they believe can lead — and can win next fall.

In our ongoing effort to chronicle the voices of the state's undecided voters, we headed to events for Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota and Texas Gov. Rick Perry in the central Iowa city of Indianola, and to a boisterous rally for Texas Rep. Ron Paul Wednesday night in Des Moines.

Here's what we saw and heard.

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A young Mitt Romney supporter holds yard signs Thursday at a campaign event at J's Homestyle Cooking in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

A young Mitt Romney supporter holds yard signs Thursday at a campaign event at J's Homestyle Cooking in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Another strong turnout this morning for Mitt Romney at a restaurant in Cedar Falls, though the small place wasn't quite as packed as yesterday's breakfast stop in Muscatine. Romney spent a lot of time shaking hands and posing for pictures with customers, supporters and restaurant staff, after he spoke for about 20 minutes. He usually takes a couple of questions from the crowd but did not today, preferring to spend more time than usual glad-handing.

While many see the state's Republican Party base trending more toward the evangelical Christian and Tea Party right, several of those attending these Romney events want the rest of the country to know there still is a strong moderate base in the Iowa GOP, especially in Eastern Iowa.

While acknowledging the growth of the religious right in her area, Carol Cooper of Cedar Falls said, "there are plenty of moderates. It's sort of a silent, maybe a silent majority, maybe not, but it's close," she said. "I know a lot of the activists in the country and I don't know many (of the people) here today, so that tells you, maybe a lot of the quieter ones came out."

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Newt Gingrich speaks Wednesday at Southbridge Mall in Mason City, Iowa.

Scott Olson/Getty Images

Newt Gingrich speaks Wednesday at Southbridge Mall in Mason City, Iowa.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich started Thursday's Iowa campaigning with a stop in Sioux City at The Coffee Works. Only about a dozen customers were there, but he was questioned critically by one about his comments on reforming the federal judiciary.

Linda Santi told Gingrich she didn't appreciate him "politicizing" the Iowa Supreme Court's 2009 decision that found unconstitutional a state law banning gay marriage. Santi said the decision was in accordance with the state constitution. Gingrich ended the conversation with: "We'll have to agree to disagree."

Across Iowa, Gingrich has been stressing his economic experience, calling himself a "supply-side conservative" who worked with Ronald Reagan in the 1980's and again as House speaker in the 1990's to revive the economy.

He keeps telling audiences how thrilled he is to campaign with economist Arthur Laffer, although it's not clear how many in his audiences have any idea who Laffer is (he's a former adviser to President Reagan who has an economic theory — the "Laffer Curve" — to his name).

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Gingrich said he's "totally focused on Iowa" and not thinking about the ensuing primary in New Hampshire.

Gingrich said if he finishes fourth in Iowa, he's definitely continuing his campaign.

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A volunteer arranges buttons before Mitt Romney speaks Wednesday in Clinton, Iowa.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

A volunteer arranges buttons before Mitt Romney speaks Wednesday in Clinton, Iowa.

Before the sun was even up here in Iowa this morning, the Mitt Romney campaign bus was rolling on its way to a stop at J's Homestyle Cooking in Cedar Falls.

No matter which direction he goes in Iowa today, the former Massachusetts governor will seem to have the wind at his back. A new Time/CNN poll puts Romney in the lead in the first state to weigh in on the GOP nominee, and campaign staffers expect big crowds again today at Romney events, similar to what he saw yesterday.

Romney also has a new TV ad airing in Iowa, a positive message giving his closing argument to Republican voters ahead of next Tuesday's caucuses.

Meantime, much of the chatter on the media bus is about the latest defection from Michele Bachmann's campaign, as a key leader jumped ship and joined Ron Paul's campaign.

On Wednesday, Bachmann's Iowa chairman, state Sen. Kent Sorenson, resigned from Bachmann's campaign to back Paul, who he characterized as in a "top-tier" battle with Romney.

After campaigning in Cedar Falls, Romney was to continue heading across northern Iowa today, visiting Mason City and ending the day with a campaign rally in Ames.

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Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann signs autographs at the Pizza Ranch in Indianola, Iowa, on Wednesday. The restaurant was largely empty aside from a few local Iowans, media and Bachmann staff.

Becky Lettenberger//NPR

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann signs autographs at the Pizza Ranch in Indianola, Iowa, on Wednesday. The restaurant was largely empty aside from a few local Iowans, media and Bachmann staff.

There will be winners next Tuesday in Iowa and there will be losers.

Although many prospective Iowa Republican presidential caucus-goers have yet to decide who they will vote for Jan. 3, it's increasingly clear who among the six GOP candidates competing here (former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman skipped the Hawkeye State contest) will likely leave without a coveted win, place or show "ticket" out.

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Sports Page Grill in Indianola, Iowa, on Wednesday. Republican presidential candidates are making a last push in Iowa ahead of the Jan.3 caucus vote.

Becky Lettenberger/NPR

Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks at the Sports Page Grill in Indianola, Iowa, on Wednesday. Republican presidential candidates are making a last push in Iowa ahead of the Jan.3 caucus vote.

We wanted to see what the potential last days of campaigning look like for candidates who, barring some dramatic event, are unlikely to finish in the top three in Iowa.

So NPR photographer Becky Lettenberger and I headed to the small central Iowa city of Indianola on Wednesday afternoon to check out events for two once high-flying candidates: Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who led in early polls here before he officially entered the race, and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, who won the state party's August straw poll.

Enlarge Chris Carlson/Associated Press

A young supporter backs former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as he speaks on Wednesday at Homer's Deli and Bakery in Clinton, Iowa.

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

A young supporter backs former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney as he speaks on Wednesday at Homer's Deli and Bakery in Clinton, Iowa.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney took a swipe at GOP rival Ron Paul and his isolationist foreign policy positions while campaigning in Iowa Wednesday, but he later told reporters he would support the outspoken Texas congressman if he were the Republican Party nominee for president.

Paul, who leans more Libertarian than Republican on many issues, leads in some polls of Iowa voters who plan to attend the Republican caucuses next Tuesday. Romney, who comes in a close second in many of those polls, had pretty much left Paul alone until now — even though some Republicans call his views too far outside the mainstream.

While stopping to chat with voters at a coffee shop that overlooked the Mississippi River as the sun rose Wednesday in Muscatine, a supporter asked Romney about his support of Israel. After first criticizing President Obama, saying he's damaged relations with an important ally, Romney than criticized Paul – but without mentioning him by name.

Eric Gay/Associated Press

Texas Gov. Rick Perry attends the Westside Conservative Club breakfast Wednesday in Urbandale, Iowa.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday asked a federal court in Virginia to halt the printing of ballots for the state's March 6 Republican primary unless his name is added.

Perry, who filed suit Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia against the Virginia State Board of Elections and the state's Republican Party chairman, on Wednesday asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order.

As of now, Republican voters in the state's Super Tuesday primary will have only two choices — former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich also has objected to the requirements to get on Virginia's Republican primary ballot.

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An Occupy camp at College Green Park in Iowa City, Iowa. The camp was mostly empty aside from three men.

Becky Lettenberger/NPR

An Occupy camp at College Green Park in Iowa City, Iowa. The camp was mostly empty aside from three men.

Will the Iowa Republican caucuses next Tuesday be flooded with the state's version of Occupy Wall Street activists?

The rumor has been out there for weeks, and the state's voting laws suggest it could be possible: though only registered Republicans may participate, anyone can register for the party on caucus night and vote.

But, as Mark Twain might say, the rumor of an OWS caucus takeover is greatly exaggerated. Or at least that's the sense we got Wednesday during a visit to the Occupy encampment in Iowa City, one of the state's most liberal cities.

"It's going to take a while for this thing to gather momentum," said Tyler Paintin, 42, peering out from one of about 20 other empty tents pitched near the gazebo in the center of College Green park.

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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich heads for a caffeine fix with his wife Callista at Jitters Coffee Bar as he makes a campaign stop at the Southbridge Mall in Mason City, Iowa on Dec. 28.

Charles Dharapak/AP

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich heads for a caffeine fix with his wife Callista at Jitters Coffee Bar as he makes a campaign stop at the Southbridge Mall in Mason City, Iowa on Dec. 28.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich Wednesday renewed his pledge not to run any negative ads in the closing days of the campaign for the Iowa caucuses. But campaigning in Mason City, Gingrich said that won't stop him from personally attacking the record of his opponents.

Gingrich spoke at a mall in Mason City and afterward grabbed a skim milk café au lait from the Jitters coffee bar.

He was asked about a direct mail flyer sent by a Super PAC that's supporting him that calls his Republican opponent Mitt Romney "the second most dangerous man in America."