Santorum edges Romney in belated Iowa GOP count
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — In a surprise flip, Rick Santorum edged front-runner Mitt Romney by 34 votes in the final tally of the Iowa caucuses, Republican officials said Thursday. But no winner was declared because some votes still remain missing two weeks after the event's closest contest ever.
The state party initially had declared Romney the victor — by just 8 votes — in the first voting for the Republican presidential nomination, based on the count the morning after the Jan. 3 caucuses. Iowa Republican Chairman Matt Strawn announced the new, certified totals in a statement Thursday, but said the party would not name an official winner because the results were so close and some votes can't be counted. Results from 8 of the state's 1,774 precincts were not certified to the state party by Wednesday's 5 pm deadline.
"We understand the importance to the candidates involved, but as Iowans we understand the responsibility we have as temporary caretakers of the Iowa caucuses," said Strawn. He congratulated Santorum and Romney "on a hard-fought effort during the closest contest in caucus history."
Unofficial election night results from the 8 precincts gave Santorum 81 votes and Romney 46. If those results had been certified, Santorum's lead in the final tally would have been 69 votes. Santorum was quick to claim the Iowa victory, saying in a fundraising email that "the incredible news" makes the score for Romney and himself 1-1. Romney followed Iowa with a strong win in New Hampshire. The third contest, South Carolina's primary, is Saturday.
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