I asked Iowa house GOP leader Christopher Rants this morning (see here), who said: “I’m honestly not sure. There are so many of these televised debates this year, I think most Iowans want to see them face to face. Perhaps the Des Moines Register debate next month being the exception.”

Rants — and official Romney guy — also had this to say, for what it’s worth:

I think Romney is the only one who can [beat Hillary]. And the polls are starting to show it. He has been the most scrutinized candidate and his stock just keeps going up. Seriously, two Newsweek cover stories that were thinly veiled hit pieces — who else has been vetted that way? The thing is, Iowa Republicans don’t always put “electability” at the top of their checklist. It’s on there, but not at the top. I think Rudy is a disaster for the party, he might personally fare well enough, but his positions will turn off so much of the base; even if it’s only 5-10-percent that stays home he kills GOP down-ballot races. Huckabee will get shredded by the Clintons — they know his Arkansas record better than anyone, and next to him, the Bill/Hill days suddenly look respectable — I mean they weren’t asking friends to furnish their house when they left office.