Who Will Win The Iowa Caucus?

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

Des Moines, Iowa – Saturday night was the ABC News debate on the campus of Drake University.

At that debate, the clear front runner was Newt Gingrich, who the latest Republican flavor of the month.

Once the debate was over, the supporters of the candidates made their way into the spin room for a time to answer questions from the press, and I was surprised to see a former candidate making his way around talking in support of Mitt Romney.

Tim Pawlenty finished 3rd at the Iowa Straw Poll back in August and quickly bowed out after his finish. Once seeing the former candidate, the only thing I could think to ask him was if he regretted dropping out of the race, after all, the 8th place finisher in the Iowa Straw Poll is now leading the Republican pack headed into the first in the nation caucus.

I looked at the former Minnesota Governor and asked him if he regrets leaving the race. “I had my fair chance, and I’m really happy and excited to be supporting Mitt Romney.”

Of course he continued by explaining why he thought Mitt Romney was the best choice to be the nominee, but in the back of his mind Pawlenty really has to be thinking he could have been the flavor of the month, and had his moment in the sun.

It is very possible Pawlenty could have been the frontrunner now. His speech he gave at the Iowa Straw Poll was one of the best I had heard him give during his short campaign.

The lesson of this process so far is, anything is possible. Only the final vote on January 3rd will answer the question of who Iowan’s support.