Rick Santorum Finishes Ahead Of Mitt Romney: Iowa Caucus Results

More than two weeks after the 2012 Iowa caucus, a final certified tally showed former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum finishing with 29,839 votes and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney with 29,805.

After the initial results came in following the Jan. 3 Iowa event, Romney was believed to have won the caucus by a mere 8 votes.

Republican officials indicated Santorum finished ahead of Romney by 34 votes on Thursday. The Des Moines Register reports that votes from eight precincts will never be counted, however, and therefore the ultimate tally remains inconclusive.

HuffPost's Elise Foley reports:

Officials found inaccurate counts in 131 precincts, including one that had an error by 50 votes, the Des Moines Register reported on Thursday.

Chad Olsen, the party’s executive director, told the Register that the results showed "a split decision." The final tallies, exempting the eight precincts that will not be tallied, were 29,839 for Santorum and 29,805 for Romney, according to the Register.

The Santorum campaign said the change in results could change the narrative of Romney as a frontrunner.

"The narrative for a long time has been that Mitt Romney was 2-0," Spokesman Hogan Gidley told CNN on Thursday. "And if these results are true and Rick is ahead by 34 votes, then that's not the narrative anymore. There have been two states, two different victors."

Romney didn't appear to agree.

"The results from Iowa caucus night revealed a virtual tie," Romney said in a statement after the certification of the results. "I would like to thank the Iowa Republican Party for their careful attention to the caucus process, and we once again recognize Rick Santorum for his strong performance in the state."

Santorum's campaign shot back after these comments, suggesting that Romney was being immature in his response.

"He sounds like a kid who didn’t get what he wanted for his birthday so he smashed the cake,” Santorum strategist and adviser John Brabender told ABC News. "In New Hampshire, Sen. Santorum called Mitt Romney and congratulated him. Romney should have the dignity, honor, and character to call and congratulate us on our win in Iowa."

UPDATE:

CNN reports that Romney placed a call to Santorum's campaign to concede in Iowa. Santorum spokesman Hogan Gidley told CNN that Romney was very "polite."

Comments

[9892]

09:41 PM on 01/21/2012

I guess Chris Christie, governor from NJ, is going to have to go to Iowa after all. He did say he would return if they did not make the "right" choice of Romney. I hope Christie stays there a long while - he won't be missed in NJ.

[Kiranitisme]

09:54 PM on 01/20/2012

Now I am led to believe how Bush won in Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004. Hey Democrats, this is your year, this is your time and this is your moment. Every vote counts. Don't sit at home, go out there and cast your vote. Many of you may be turned away and not allowed to vote. Those of you who are fortunate and have registered already, don't waste your vote, go out there and vote.

[luvdatbobcat]

07:01 AM on 01/21/2012

Sorry, but your logic fails. As an example, Florida 2000. Elections in that state are held on a county level and are ran by an election supervisor. The majority of those supervisors for that election were Democrats.

On the other hand, Ohio uses a system where there are 2 Democrats and 2 Republicans who ran each county election.

If you believe these elections were stolen, you have to wonder why a LARGE number of Democrats helped steal these election.

[Kiranitisme]

09:51 PM on 01/20/2012

These Republicans cannot even count the ballots. How can they manage the country? First it was Wisconsin with the election of judge to the Supreme Court and now in Iowa in a Presidential primary. How are we to believe the results in GOP governed states in November 2012? Add to that all the voter intimidation and voter suppression legislation they are rushing through that take effect immediately!

[RepublicanDepression]

09:11 PM on 01/20/2012

The powerful, manly Iowa GOP males met in a secret room to count.

When they came out, Santorum was on everyone’s lips.

And all over their caucus.

[corkey Dickey]

11:59 AM on 01/20/2012

I hope the 2016 election has half the debates.Maybe they would be better.

[corkey Dickey]

11:52 AM on 01/20/2012

Maybe if they did a third vote Ron Paul would win or Perry

[corkey Dickey]

11:45 AM on 01/20/2012

If there are 8 precients not counted how can they say either one of them won? I wish they would let other states have a chance at being the first to caucas.

[JTyroler]

10:31 AM on 01/20/2012

It is so reassuring that the GOP is concerned about election integrity that they can't figure who actually won the Iowa caucuses. They didn't require ID for caucus goers, but that is not the problem. The problem is that they don't really care about elections or their results. Weeks later, they can't find all of the ballots that they controlled.

They are pathetic.

[RepublicanDepression]

09:11 PM on 01/20/2012

Brilliant

[robertogt]

09:15 AM on 01/20/2012

You would think a nation that could put a man on the moon could get an accurate vote count. But then outcome based elections are nothing new. Ask Ron Paul.

[RepublicanDepression]

09:13 PM on 01/20/2012

Ron Paul won the Iowa entrance poll and the Iowa exit poll.

What happened in between?

And will Ron Paul supporters actually vote for the Republican establishment nominee after this chicanery?

[lv1155]

08:44 AM on 01/20/2012

The most important part of this story is that the Iowa caucus does not represent a clean election. Yet I don't hear those Republican's screaming and seem poised to sweep it under the rug. That's because they have decided that at this point, Romney is their best shot and they are going to make it happen. So much for voter fraud. We need to remember Florida, and Gore and Bush and pay attention to what they have planned this time against Obama and whoever he runs against.

[robertogt]

09:18 AM on 01/20/2012

I'm just curious. If Romney is "electable" now, why wasn't he electable in 08? McCain got clocked and now it's Romney's turn. What a scam

[lv1155]

09:28 AM on 01/20/2012

Romney was never electable. He just represents the best they have right now as a candidate that has a snowballs chance of flip flopping enough to get some of that independent vote. I just don't think they will be fooled when the general election comes, so bad move on their part. I don't think the president should be a modern day version of Richie Rich.

[urbrainwashed2]

08:27 AM on 01/20/2012

Iowa has a lot of union voters. No wonder "Blue Collar Rick" never mentioned he supported a national right to work communism law.

[landskroon]

03:05 AM on 01/20/2012

When Republicans count votes things go wrong, more than once. Somretimes it gives un-expected Presidents. Was it because they fear a mormon to become President ??

[AlekHidell]

02:13 AM on 01/20/2012

...

[Karen StovallStringer]

08:32 AM on 01/20/2012

I see your three dots and raise them by 5: . . . . .

[RepublicanDepression]

09:13 PM on 01/20/2012

.......

Seven! I win!

[EvolveorPerish]

01:33 AM on 01/20/2012

And for Paul, nothing

[angelbravo]

12:30 AM on 01/20/2012

The GOP stance was that Iowa didn't count ever before the Caucus was held through out the state. Wake up Iowa they don't care about you.