Will Iowa Play Leapfrog to Keep Caucus No. 1 or Say Enough is Enough?

New Years? Christmas? Chanukah? Thanksgiving? What about Halloween? What holiday attire will Iowans wear to their caucuses?

"If New Hampshire moves to December, then Iowa would have to predate that," Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin told the Sioux City Journal. "We don't want to start in December, but that could happen."

At this point, nobody's ruling out November Iowa caucuses.

Iowans are watching, with their hanging in the balance, as states leapfrog earlier and earlier to stake out their position for selecting the GOP presidential nominee.

But, like with most things, Iowans take it all in stride.

"Iowa has no choice but to embrace it and make the best of it," said Jim Aipperspach, a West Des Moines Republican.

Despite New Hampshire's latest threat of an early December primary, which was in response to Nevada moving its contest up to Jan. 14, which was in response to Florida on Jan. 31... and so on, Iowans want to stick with January. State party leaders have been pointing to Jan. 3.

"It must be in January and it will be," an attorney and former Iowa Republican gubernatorial candidate Doug Gross said in response to an email.

Rick Sanders, a Story County Supervisor, said any state that holds a primary or caucus before Jan. 1 risks becoming irrelevant to the process.

“You become external to the process almost like the straw poll we just had,” Sanders said.

Sanders said no one is asking him when the date should be set but he likes early January.

But, others say, Iowa is prepared to do what it takes to stay No. 1.

Ryan Gough of the Republican Party of Iowa, told the Journal, "Yeah, there's some frustration with the calendar ... No one wants to do it in December, what with Christmas, but our folks are willing to work to make it the best it can be whenever they are."

Some GOP candidates seem to be saying enough is enough with the ever shrinking window to the beginning of the decision process.

Former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann have all said they will boycott the Nevada caucus. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul say they plan to participate. 

Jessica Miller with Ames Patch and Beth Dalbey west West Des Moines Patch contributed to this article.