original_query: What is the significance of the Iowa caucuses in the US presidential election process?
query: What is the significance of the Iowa caucuses in the US presidential election process?
answer: Before the Iowa caucuses gained national attention in the 1970s, the New Hampshire primary was the first binding indication of which presidential candidate would receive the party nomination.  Now, the Iowa caucuses are the first official election-year event, and although it's not considered a 'similar election' to the New Hampshire primary, the two events together receive significant media attention and greatly influence the presidential race.