With the Iowa caucuses less than two weeks away, and with Donald Trump making an appearance here at Iowa State, the candidates and debates seem to be on everyone’s mind. Here are some interesting facts about the Republican candidates that you may not know:   

1. Jeb Bush: The name Jeb isn’t actually his real name, it’s a combination of his initials: John Ellis Bush.

2. Ben Carson: He was the director at Johns Hopkins Hospital for pediatric neurosurgery at the age of 33.

3. Chris Christie: One of his all-time favorite singers is Bruce Springsteen, and Christie even went to London to see him perform.  

4. Ted Cruz: He describes himself as a huge movie lover and his favorite is “The Princess Bride.”

5. Carly Fiorina: She battled breast cancer in 2009, undergoing a double mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

6. Jim Gilmore: He had a passion for the clarinet and was the student band director, making the All-County, All-Regional and All-Student USA bands.

7. Mike Huckabee: He lost more than 100 pounds and wrote a book about weight lost in 1997.

8. John Kasich: He had two shows that he hosted on Fox News called “From the Heartland with John Kasich,” and “Heroes with John Kasich.”

9. Rand Paul: He is the former president and has been a member for a long time of the Bowling Green Noon Lions Club.

10. Marco Rubio: Since 2008 he has taught Florida International University’s School of International and Public Affairs.

11. Rick Santorum: He practiced law at Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, where he met his future wife.

12. Donald Trump: He is a fan of the World Wrestling Entertainment and is a good friend with the owner, Vince McMahon.