This year’s Republican presidential campaign is unique, not only in how wide open the race is but also because of the wealth of choices for voters from the party’s different wings or factions.

◼ GOP presidential candidates face delicate balancing act

Establishment Republicans, who long have been dominant in the nomination process, may be able to pick from Romney, former Florida governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.

The most conservative party activists, who believe it is time for the GOP to nominate someone who is a true believer, could have even more choices. That group includes the two most recent winners of the Iowa caucuses — former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee — as well as Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and doctor Ben Carson.

Add in four others who could fit somewhere in between — Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, former Texas governor Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker — plus other dark-horse candidates struggling to gain some attention and the jockeying is likely to become ferocious, raising the stakes on finding ways to stand out in the crowd....

The Iowa Freedom Summit, co-sponsored by Citizens United, drew nearly two dozen speakers — more than half a dozen of them now thinking seriously about running for the nomination — and a huge throng from the media, with an estimated 200 requesting credentials. Missing, however, were Bush, Romney, Rubio, Paul and Jindal.

◼ #iafreedomsummit: Ted Cruz
◼ #iafreedomsummit: Rick Perry
◼ #iafreedomsummit: Scott Walker
◼ #iafreedomsummit: Chris Christie
◼ Ben Carson
◼ #iafreedomsummit: Carly Fiorina
◼ Mike Huckabee
◼ Rick Santorum
◼ Sarah Palin
◼ Donald Trump
◼ #iafreedomsummit: Newt Gingrich
◼ #iafreedomsummit: Jim DeMint
◼ Steve King
The Iowa contingent: Both of Iowa's U.S. senators, 34-year veteran Chuck Grassley and newly sworn-in Joni Ernst, will speak, as will Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Rod Blum, the newly elected congressman in the 1st District, in eastern Iowa.

◼ Prominent speakers at the Iowa Freedom Summit - Des Moines Register

The free event (was) at capacity, and a waiting list for admission topped 800 names. Event organizers said all 23 speakers (were allotted) equal time to speak: 20 minutes. The order ...determined by the speakers' schedules and when they'll be arriving and departing Des Moines.