Three-way tie likely in US Iowa caucuses

EARLY returns from the Iowa Republican caucuses signal a close three-way contest among Representative Ron Paul of Texas, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

Trailing in the second tier were former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Governor Rick Perry and Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota as Iowa Republicans had the first say of the 2012 presidential campaign, Bachmann's campaign appeared on life support, perhaps the first casualty of the voting.

The Iowans crowded into firehouses and church basements in caucus meetings on a cold, clear evening, a quadrennial showcase of democracy that often winnows the field of candidates while sending top finishers off to the rest of the country.

Returns from 548 of 1774 precincts showed Paul, Romney and Santorum each with 23 per cent, separated by 189 votes.

They were followed by Gingrich at 13 per cent, Perry at 10 per cent, and Bachmann with 6 per cent.

All three had, at some point in the campaign, been seen as Romney's top rival.

Another candidate, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who served as Obama's ambassador to China, is not competing in Iowa, choosing to focus on the New Hampshire primary.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/newscomaumostpopularworldndm/~3/pTJQS-BHuPk/story-e6frfku0-1226236532314

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