Santorum "wins Iowa by 34 votes"

[RI]

Here are the 8 'missing' precincts:

County   Precinct
Cerro Gordo   Mason City W2 P3
Emmet   E'VILLE-WARD 2
Franklin   Geneva/Reeve
Lee   FM 4A
Lee   FM4B
Lee   Franklin Cedar Marion
Lee   Washington Green Bay Denmark
Pocahontas   Center-S Roosevelt-N Lincoln

From the unofficial precinct results I have, Paul won 4 of these precincts, Santorum won 3, and Romney won 1. Combined, they voted Santorum 81, Paul 64, Romney 46, Gingrich 30, Perry 31.



Combined totals are below:



Santorum's final margin would be 69 votes.

[angus]

I like ties, actually.  Most folks don't, but I do.  Resolution is so...so final.  This way it's more mysterious, like the first half of a John Dickson Carr novel. 

So what happens now, anyway?  State supreme court gets involved or what? 

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Why do I think that if the final result had Romney ahead by the same margin, the Iowa GOP would be calling it a Romney win instead of a virtual tie?

[© tweed]

I like ties, actually.  Most folks don't, but I do.  Resolution is so...so final.  This way it's more mysterious, like the first half of a John Dickson Carr novel. 

So what happens now, anyway?  State supreme court gets involved or what? 

I am a noteworthy proponent of ending shootouts in the NHL and bringing back the tie

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Hmm, the numbers for both the Mittster and Frothy went down, and 8 precincts are "missing" (which raises the question of how many are partially missing).  Suspicious much?

The whole concept of caucuses is retarded and undemocratic, so casting suspicions on their results is rather missing the point.

After all these years, I still don't know how the f**king thing works

[Sam Spade]

Why do I think that if the final result had Romney ahead by the same margin, the Iowa GOP would be calling it a Romney win instead of a virtual tie?

Because you are correct.

[angus]

After all these years, I still don't know how the f**king thing works

And you have probably never even attended one.

Imagine my frustration, having attended them and still not understanding how the thing works!

[TheGlobalizer]

Congratulation, Phil.

[Landslide Lyndon]

VINDICATION!!!

http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/01/rick-santorum-campaign-demands-credit-for-iowa-victory----and-gets-it.php

Rick Santorum’s campaign wasn’t having any talk of a “split decision” in Iowa, as the state GOP called it Thursday morning. They insisted that the world acknowledge what the final vote tallies plainly showed: Santorum won.

Now it seems that the GOP is coming around. State party chair Matt Strawn said in a radio interview this afternoon that he owes Santorum, who he identified as the clear winner, an apology.

The final count shows Santorum with a 34 vote lead, reversing an eight vote Romney lead in the unofficial caucus night tally. There are still eight precincts that, due to an apparent clerical error, were not properly certified. Add in their unofficial total and Santorum’s lead increases to 69.

...

“We’ve had two early state contests with two winners - and the narrative that Governor Romney and the media have been touting of ‘inevitability’ has been destroyed,” Santorum communications director Hogan Gidley said in a statement celebrating the results.

The campaign is also pushing back against the Romney camp’s statement that the updated results are a “virtual tie,” despite declaring his own victory with a smaller unofficial margin.

“He sounds like a kid who didn’t get what he wanted for his birthday so he smashed the cake,” Santorum adviser John Brabender told ABC News.

[TheGlobalizer]

Congratulations, Rick.

[Meeker]

Atlas results have been updated.

[tmthforu94]

So a couple precinct results just disappeared?

As the outcome isn't defininte, I'd also urge Dave to award point to those who picked both Romney and Santorum.

[Landslide Lyndon]

So a couple precinct results just disappeared?

As the outcome isn't defininte, I'd also urge Dave to award point to those who picked both Romney and Santorum.

The precincts that disappeared were pro-Santorum, sore loser.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

Add in their unofficial total and Santorum’s lead increases to 69.

A ha ha ha ha.  

[Queen Mum Inks.LWC]

So a couple precinct results just disappeared?

As the outcome isn't defininte, I'd also urge Dave to award point to those who picked both Romney and Santorum.

I'd say this would probably be fair... when the results are this close, we'll probably never know who the "real" winner is.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Congrats Phil

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

At least even in worst case, map won't be all-Romney.

So a couple precinct results just disappeared?

As the outcome isn't defininte, I'd also urge Dave to award point to those who picked both Romney and Santorum.

Moderate hero.

[memphis]

Sucks for Santorum. The Romney won Iowa narrative has long since played out, and there's little he can do to combat it, even if Santorum did really win. Very similar to Gore 2000.

[Gustaf]

I don't think anyone should get points except those who predicted Santorum. That's my objective view.

[NHI]

We'll never know the real winner, but Santorum will be beaming tonight...ugh.

[Fuzzybigfoot]

We'll never know the real winner, but Santorum will be beaming tonight...ugh.

Um, yes we do. 

[Angel of Death]

I thought of another reason why this may ironically help Romney: Santorum may now feel less inclined to drop out after a disappointing result in South Carolina and unite the anti-Romney forces before Florida.

[Rooney]

I am an Iowan. I have lived in Iowa my whole life and have voted in a lot of caucuses. I hate the Iowa Caucus. It makes Iowa look like a state of idiots, and seeing how the caucus was handled on January 3rd I can only conclude that we are a state of idiots.

Rick Perry called the Iowa Caucus a "loosey goosey" process and, in his own special way, Perry was right. My caucus was held at the Meredith Wilson"Music Man" Museum and our "official ballot" was just a list of names. Nothing official. It did not go through a machine. Some old dude counted he ballots. Ron Paul won my precinct with 22 votes, but I do not know if that old dude told the state party leaders the actual tally. It is all an honor system and choosing the president should not be based off of an honor system.

New Hampshire does this the right way. It should get to go first and Iowa should grow up. We should not have loopy old ladies falling asleep instead of reporting results. Caucuses have been and always will be a joke. I think I may move to Missouri... 

[Angel of Death]

Caucuses have been and always will be a joke. I think I may move to Missouri... 

Uh,

The Feb. 7 primary in Missouri awards no delegates on the Republican side.  The delegate allocation is based on the March 17 caucuses.

[Rooney]

The Feb. 7 primary in Missouri awards no delegates on the Republican side.  The delegate allocation is based on the March 17 caucuses.

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar for informing me of this. Perhaps I shall move to North Korea.