Bachmann Wins Iowa Straw Poll

August 13, 2011

Republican presidential candidate Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., takes to the stage to speak at the Republican Party's Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

(CNSNews.com) - Rep. Michele Bachmann (R.-Minn.) won the presidential straw poll that the Iowa Republican Party hosted today at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. She took 4,823 votes out of a total of 16,892 votes that were cast.

Rep. Ron Paul placed a close second with 4,671 votes, followed by former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty who won 2,293 votes and former Sen. Rick Santorum who won 1,657 votes. Herman Cain won 1,456 votes, Texas Gov. Rick Perry won 718 votes, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney won 567 votes, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich won 385 votes, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman won 69 votes, and Rep. Thad McCotter won 35 votes.

The straw poll is seen as an earlier sign of intensity of support and organizational strength in a state that holds the first-in-the-nation caususes in the Republican presidential nomination process. In 2007, Romney won the straw poll, beating former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who came in second. But Romney was later bested by Huckabee in the 2008 caucuses. In 1999, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush won the straw poll and went on the win the 2000 caucuses. In 1995, then-Sen. Bob Dole (Kan.) and then-Sen. Phil Gramm (Texas) tied in the straw poll and Dole went on to win the 1996 caucuses.

Here are the full final results from today's straw poll:

Candidate Votes

Rep Michele Bachmann 4,823

Rep. Ron Paul 4,671

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty 2,293

Former Sen. Rick Santorum 1,657

Herman Cain 1,456

Texas Gov. Rick Perry 718

Former Mass. Gov Mitt Romney 567

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich 385

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman 69

Rep. Thad McCotter 35