Bachmann wins Iowa Straw Poll; Pawlenty withdraws from race

Congesswoman Michele Bachmann after her big win in the Iowa Straw Poll (photo D.Hubbard)

Ames, Iowa- Minnesota Congresswoman  came into the straw poll hoping for a win and, she left the Straw Poll with a win. Bachmann edged out Texas Congressman Ron Paul receiving 4,823 votes for a total of 28.6% of the vote. Paul received  4,671 votes for a total of 27.7% of the vote. Tim Pawlenty finished in a distant third place with 2,293 votes for 13.6% of the final vote. Cheers went up from Bachmann supporters as Iowa Republican Party Chairman Matt Strawn announced the winner of the poll. Ron Paul supporters began chanting their candidates name when they saw how Paul had placed.

Pawlenty’s third place finish was not what the campaign had hoped for. Pawlenty spent a serious amount of money leading up to the straw poll. In the weeks before the Straw Poll, Pawlenty’s campaign had saturated the state with Radio and TV ads, campaign mailers, and campaign stops. Yet, despite all of his efforts, Pawlenty was unable to get a major kick in his campaign. Early Sunday Morning, Pawlenty announced that he would be withdrawing from the Presidential race.

Michele Bachmann released a statement after it was announced Pawlenty would be withdrawing from the race. “This morning I spoke with Governor Pawlenty to express my respect and admiration for him, and to wish him and his family well. Running for the presidency requires enormous self-sacrifice. Governor Pawlenty brought an important voice and ideas to the campaign, and he served the people of Minnesota, and our country well. Our party and our country are better as a result of his service and commitment.”

Tim Pawlenty gave one of his best speeches during his campaign during the Straw Poll. Was it too little too late. (photo D.Hubbard)

After the results of the Straw Poll were announced on Saturday, Bachmann spoke to a gathering of Press and Supporters by he bus. “What we saw happen today, is this is the very first step towards taking the White House in 2012,” Bachmann said. Bachmann continued, “This was a wonderful down payment on taking the country back and it started in Iowa!”

Another interesting was that of Write In Candidate Rick Perry. Despite announcing his Presidential Bid yesterday in South Carolina, Perry was not included on the ballot. Instead, party officials included the “Write In” option. At the Straw Poll, a group of Perry Supporters were pushing for people to do a write in vote for the Texas Governor. Perry received 718 votes (4.3%) Perry’s vote total was higher than that of Mitt Romney. Romney, who announced earlier this summer that he would skip the Straw Poll, received 567 votes (3.4%).

The final results of the Straw Poll can be found below.

1. Bachmann 4,823 (28.6%), 2. Paul 4,671 (27.7%), 3. Pawlenty 2,293 (13.6%), 4. Santorum 1,657 (9.8%), 5. Cain 1,456 (8.6%) 6. Rick Perry 718 (4.3%), 7. Romney 567 (3.4%), 8. Newt Gingrich 385 (2.3%), 9. Jon Huntsman 69 (0.4%), 10. Thaddeus McCotter 35 (0.2%)