In Iowa, Romney edges out Santorum

The Iowa caucuses came down to the wire, with Mitt Romney claiming an eight-vote victory. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul won 24.5 percent and 21.4 percent of the votes, respectively.

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Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, with his wife, Ann, and their sons at his side, addresses supporters at the Hotel Fort Des Moines on Iowa caucuses night. Romney won the Iowa caucuses by eight votes.

Win McNamee / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum is joined by his wife, Karen, and their children at a victory celebration in Johnston, Iowa. Santorum was a few votes ahead of Mitt Romney with almost all Iowa votes counted after a late surge to front-runner status.

Charlie Riedel / Associated Press

Jan. 3, 2012

A young girl on stage yawns as Republican presidential candidate, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich speaks at an event after the close of the Iowa caucus.

T.J. Kirkpatrick / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Texas Gov. Rick Perry is greeted by supporters after speaking on caucus night in West Des Moines. Perry said he was returning to Texas to reassess his campaign after a fifth-place finish.

Evan Vucci / Associated Press

Jan. 3, 2012

Supporters cheer for Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, during his caucus night rally.

Eric Gay / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Ron Paul, center, and his wife, Carol, left, greet supporters during a rally at the Courtyard Des Moines Ankeny in Ankeny, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Zoey McCarty, center, and other Rick Santorum supporters wait at the Stoney Creek Inn for Santorum's arrival in Johnston, Iowa.

Andrew Burton / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, second from left, looks over caucus returns with campaign staff in his hotel room in Johnston, Iowa.

Charlie Riedel / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

In Des Moines, young supporters of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney watch voting results come in.

BRIAN SNYDER / REUTERS

Jan. 3, 2012

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, one of the Republican presidential candidates, gets ready for an interview in Des Moines.

Evan Vucci / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Voters debate during a caucus of precinct 42 near Smithland, Iowa.

Dave Weaver / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Newt Gingrich's campaign staff members snap photos in front of the stage at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center, where he will speak after the close of the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines.

T.J. Kirkpatrick / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Campaign volunteers Sam Adkisson, second from right, of Springfield, Ill., and Stephen Firestone, right, of Houston, watch coverage of the caucuses prior to an event for Mitt Romney at the Fort Des Moines Hotel.

Chip Somodevilla / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Iowa caucusgoers fill up the campus of the University of Northern Iowa.

JEFF HAYNES / REUTERS

Jan. 3, 2012

Michele Bachmann visits a caucus site on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

JEFF HAYNES / REUTERS

Jan. 3, 2012

Precinct captain Barbara Hatinger works on paperwork before the doors open at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Matthew Putney / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

A young boy prepares to leave school before the arrival of voters at Walnut Hills Elementary School in Urbandale, Iowa.

Jonathan Gibby / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Caucus-goers begin to gather on the campus of the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.

JEFF HAYNES / REUTERS

Jan. 3, 2012

Technician Richie Beanan irons an American flag on stage before a rally with supporters of former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney at the Hotel Fort Des Moines.

Chip Somodevilla / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Broadcast journalists report from the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, Iowa, where former senator Rick Santorum will be when the results of the caucus are announced.

Andrew Burton / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, greet audience members at a rally in Des Moines.

BRIAN SNYDER / REUTERS

Jan. 3, 2012

A man listens as Texas Gov. Rick Perry speaks in Des Moines.

Andrew Burton / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Rick Perry gives Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal a high five during his speech in Des Moines at the Sheraton Hotel.

SAMANTHA SAIS / REUTERS

Jan. 3, 2012

Former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, a Republican presidential candidate, hugs his son Peter as he waits to be introduced with members of his family at a Christian school assembly in Urbandale, Iowa.

John Gress / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Rick Santorum campaigns at a Christian school assembly in Urbandale, Iowa.

John Gress / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Balloons kept in plastic bags sit waiting for celebration at the Stoney Creek Inn in Johnston, Iowa, where Rick Santorum will be when the results of the 2012 Iowa caucuses are announced.

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Dudley Winn of Lubbock, Texas, shows his support for Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican presidential candidate, during the caucus at the West Des Moines Sheraton Hotel.

Samantha Sais / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Employees of Tidland Corp. listen to former Utah governor Jon Huntsman Jr., right, a Republican presidential candidate, speak in Keene, N.H. While the rest of the GOP candidates are in Iowa, Huntsman chose to campaign in New Hampshire, which holds the first primary. Tidland manufactures equipment for slitting and winding materials such as paper and plastic film.

Matthew Cavanaugh / Getty Images

Jon Huntsman Jr. shakes hands with Brian Parent, a worker at Tidland Corp., during a tour of the manufacturing plant in Keene, N.H.

Matthew Cavanaugh / GETTY IMAGES

Jan. 3, 2012

Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), a Republican presidential candidate, is introduced at a forum at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Eric Gay / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, right, signs an autograph during a campaign stop at the Drake Restaurant in Burlington, Iowa.

John Lovretta / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Gingrich speaks to audience members at the Drake Restaurant in Burlington, Iowa.

John Lovretta / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Campaign signs for Ron Paul and Rick Perry line the sidewalk in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.

Chris Carlson / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican presidential candidate, speaks to Principal Financial Group employees on the day of the Iowa caucuses in Des Moines.

Andrew Burton / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), greets supporters as he arrives to speak at a campaign stop in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Jim Young / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential hopeful, Rep Ron Paul (Tex.), speaks during a "Rock the Caucus" event at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

A supporter of Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul (Tex.), holds a U.S. flag at a campaign stop in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Jim Young / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum reacts to a question from the media at a campaign stop at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Charlie Riedel / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential hopeful and former Pennsylvania senator Rick Santorum, left, walks with his wife, Karen, after speaking during a "Rock the Caucus" event at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann, center, arrives with her daughters, Elisa, left, and Caroline, right, to campaign at the "Rock the Caucus" event at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

John Gress / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), waves from her bus following a campaign stop at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Eric Gay / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Bob DiGregorio, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, leaves a caucus training session held at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa. After months of campaigning by candidates, Iowa voters prepare to participate in the first caucus of the 2012 presidential election.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, holds hands with his wife, Anita, alongside Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, before speaking with potential voters at a caucus training session held at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Supporters wait for Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry to speak with potential voters during a caucus training session held at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Jonathan Gibby / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate and Texas Gov. Rick Perry hugs supporters at the West Des Moines Sheraton Hotel on the day of the Iowa caucuses.

Samantha Sais / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Elaine Reid, of Muscatine, Iowa, left, listens as Republican presidential candidate and former House speaker Newt Gingrich speaks at a campaign on the day of the Iowa caucuses at Elly's Tea and Coffee House in Muscatine, Iowa. After a surge of support in early December, Gingrich saw a double-digit drop to 12 percent in last week's Des Moines Register poll, compared with front-runner Mitt Romney's 24 percent going in to the caucus.

T.J. Kirkpatrick / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich stands with his wife, Callista, as he buys ice cream during a campaign stop at Elly's Tea and Coffee House in Muscatine, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Supporters of Republican presidential candidate and former House speaker Newt Gingrich listen to him speak at Elly's Tea and Coffee House in Muscatine, Iowa.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2011

The local community center for precinct 7 in downtown Rock Rapids, Iowa.

Melina Mara / The Washington Post

Jan. 3, 2012

A volunteer makes phone calls on behalf of Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney at his campaign headquarters in Des Moines.

Evan Vucci / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, left, and his wife, Ann, introduce their sons Josh, second right, and Matt at a campaign rally in Des Moines.

Brian Snyder / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Audience members listen as Mitt Romney speaks at a campaign rally in Des Moines.

Brian Snyder / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Mitt Romney speaks to supporters at a campaign rally in Des Moines.

Rick Wilking / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Mitt Romney greets audience members at a campaign rally in Des Moines.

Brian Snyder / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) greets students during a "Rock the Caucus" event at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks during a "Rock the Caucus" event at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann speaks at Valley High School in West Des Moines, Iowa.

Justin Sullivan / Getty Images

Jan. 3, 2012

Former House speaker Newt Gingrich greets voters at Elly's Tea and Coffee in Muscatine, Iowa.

Jeff Haynes / Reuters

Jan. 3, 2012

Newt Gingrich campaigns at Elly's Coffee Tea and Coffee House in Muscatine, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

Jan. 3, 2012

Callista Gingrich, wife of Newt Gingrich, left, campaigns at Elly's Coffee Tea and Coffee House in Muscatine, Iowa.

Charles Dharapak / AP

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