Davenport Becomes a Magnet for Candidates DAVENPORT, Iowa - It took Carolyn Barry nearly until the caucuses to make up her mind. But her flirtations with a series of other candidates seemed a thing of the past as she enthusiastically shook Mitt Romney's hand while wearing a campaign button that spoke to suddenly solid support. "We've listened to all the others," said Ms. Barry, 69, "And this man here makes more sense than any of them so far." Three candidates traveled to this city, Iowa's third largest, to make their final pitches on Monday, highlighting its importance on the last full day of campaigning before this long season of prognostication gives way to actual vote tallying Tuesday. And despite the cold and blustery weather - which Mr. Romney's wife declared "finally feels like winter in Iowa" - hundreds of voters massed at events around this city. The day started with Mr. Romney entreating those who helped him win this county four years ago: "I need you to get out and do that again." In the afternoon, a far larger and more enthusiastic group chanted and cheered as Representative Ron Paul laid out his vision for reshaping the nation. And in the evening, a smaller crowd showed up to see Mr. Gingrich, who had earlier predicted that he is unlikely to win. Though most of the people in the crowds were committed supporters of the candidates, a few people used the series of events to help make up their minds after an election cycle defined by indecision. Don Mitchell, 59, who works at a senior living center, attended events for Mr. Romney and Mr. Paul - and planned to see Mr. Gingrich during a later appearance at a hotel here - in search of last-minute clarity. "I'm looking to get a more personal sense of who these candidates are," he said. In a state with a foot in both the Great Plains and the Rust Belt, Davenport is more Rust Belt, an old manufacturing city of 100,000 people set on the Mississippi River and part of the Quad Cities area that stretches over to Illinois. Home to companies like John Deere, Scott County had an unemployment rate of 6.7 percent in November, far lower than the national average. Though the appearance of half the Republican field showed that the area remained an important staging ground in the battle for the nomination - party voters tend to be more moderate and more focused on fiscal issues than on the other side of the state, local leaders said - it also was a reminder that just a day later Iowa will revert to being known more as a critical swing state. Bundled up against the cold and holding handwritten signs, several local Democratic leaders staged a small protest outside fairgrounds where Mr. Romney was appearing. But they had no plans to attend the events for Mr. Paul or Mr. Gingrich. "No, I didn't even know about that," said Dennis DeDecker, 60, a machinist at an aluminum company who serves on the county central committee. I think he'll be the one they nominate. Though the county has not supported a Republican for president since Ronald Reagan, Bill Gulba, the mayor and a longtime Democratic leader, said this was the type of place that may determine the re-election outcome for President Obama, who visited here several months ago. He said that the area supported the Republican candidate for governor in the last election. "I wouldn't take this county for granted," said Mr. Gulba, in whose office are several photographs of him standing alongside President Obama (one from four years ago is addressed to "my loyal friend and supporter, for the great introduction to Davenport, Iowa.") Hundreds turned out to see Representative Ron Paul of Texas, who was accompanied by his son Rand Paul, a senator for Kentucky. His dedicated supporters have been the most visible in the area leading up to the vote. The standing-room only crowd repeatedly applauded and chanted in support. "You can feel that buzz happening, just like you did with Obama," said Todd McGreevy, 43, a supporter who is publisher of the River Cities" Reader, the local biweekly newspaper, which made a front page case for his nomination. Though Mr. Paul received just 9 percent of the vote here in 2008, compared with 31 percent for Mr. Romney, Mr. McGreevy pointed out that the Mr. Paul had visited three times this time as opposed to never the last election. But if Mr. Paul's supporters came to him for what they see as his unwavering vision, the crowd at Mr. Romney's event were there for a much more practical reason. "At the end of the day it comes down to electability," said Gary Turpin, 65, who does marketing for an energy company. I think every one of them is a good person and a good candidate, but I think he's the most electable. At the evening event Mr. Gingrich was late, prompting some to leave. Those who stayed said they were undaunted by the sinking poll numbers and uninterested in the other candidates. "I have no desire to see the rest of them," said Bob Peppers, 70, a locksmith. Steven Yaccino contributed reporting from Des Moines.