Santorum Tops Romney in Iowa Caucus 'Split Decision' (Santorum won by 34 votes)

national journal ^ | January 19, 2012 | Niraj Chokshi

[Brown Deer]

A recount of the Jan. 3 Iowa Republican caucus results has Rick Santorum leading Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP presidential nomination by 34 votes, with data from 8 precincts missing and never to be certified, GOP officials told The Des Moines Register on Wednesday. Despite Santorum's advantage, the state Republican party views the results as a wash.

[Utmost Certainty]

Geez. Did he win or did he not win? I’m not a Santorum fan, but it’s completely bogus and absurd for them to deny him like this.

It wasn’t “a wash” when Romney “won” by 8 votes and you had Ayotte and others out there hustling that “hey, a win is a win!!”

[Happy Rain]

Wait a minute—all the Mitt fans in the Liberal MSM and the RINO establishment have been trumpeting that Willard won Iowa SINCE Iowa!

Gee,reckon they are telling us who they prefer?

[Rational Thought]

When uncertified results reflected an 8 vote margin for Romney, it was a “Major Victory”. Now, in the certified results reflecting Santorum actually won the Caucuses by 34 votes, GOP officials are saying that results from 8 precincts are missing and cannot be recovered. Further, they add that those missing precincts may have held an advantage for Romney.

If this is to be the official position of the Iowa GOP, I don't know who's bigger clowns, them or the media which rushed to report two weeks ago on “Romney's Big Win”. This also makes the Iowa process look foolish.

When is a loss a win? When Romney loses Iowa and the Media reports it as a victory. When is a win a tie? When Santorum wins Iowa.

[sunmars]

These caucuses make a joke of everything, its too open to fiddling around, forms were not signed, who knows what went on, call it a draw and be done with it. This is why cacuses are daft, primaries are much easier for a paper trail.

[Rational Thought]

There are really no paper trails in primaries either. Add to that all the crossover primary states, all the fraud, and all the intentionally misleading reporting by the media and I think it's fair to say that the accuracy of our entire primary system can be looked at with suspicion.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Yes, exactly, and it was predicted if there was a change in Iowa post-facto. We already know how our overlord masters, the American MSM telling us what to think 1984-style, would say:

Romney wins by a whisker: "ROMNEY WINS IOWA CAUCUS, STEAMROLLS ON TO NEW HAMPSHIRE"

Santorum wins by a whisker:

"ROMNEY, SANTORUM TIE IN IOWA"

Sheesh, I KNEW this bullcrap spin/narrative was coming, they are SO predictable. I KNEW IT. Scumbags. So in the tank to get the contrived bandwagon effect for Romney so the unthinking masses within the GOP at the polls feel "inevitability", whereupon Mittens is then summarily slaughtered in the General Election by their boy, Barack Hussein Obama. The template is already ginned up, it is such a farce.

In these remaining **48** primaries and caucuses, we simply MUST REVOLT, speak truth to power (GOP Elite/DNC faciliators and MSM toadies) and overturn this oppressive order. MUST!! WHERE IS THE TEA PARTY IN 2012!!!???

[mewzilla]

FNC is now leading with this story.

And in calling this a tie, the RNC is now as corrupt as the DNC.

[AmericanInTokyo]

A “TIE” means they got the same number of votes. Such LIARS. This is not “journalism”. No longer. This is sheer “Agenda”. Puke. “Tie” my foot!

[sheikdetailfeather]

Fox is saying Santorum WON IOWA.

[mewzilla]

Don’t shoot the messenger. The RNC are the ones calling this a tie. The press, in this case FNC, is just reporting what the Pubbies are saying.

[exit82]

Iowa’s GOP proves again why they should not be the first primary in the nation.

What is so hard about logging the total number of ballots cast in each precinct, tallying them, checking the math, put all the ballots in a sealed envelope and report the results to a central location.The sealed envelope is held by a designated person for one month in case of recounts, or sent to a central location, and logged in.

In 2012, people are incapalble of doing this simple task correctly?

It’s bad enough anyone can show up and vote for the GOP nominee. It’s bad enough that the primary vote van be manipulated.

But now, you cannot even have faith in almost foolproof process.

Which can mean one thing.

The Iowa GOP has a better than average class of fools running it.

[mewzilla]

And the GOP, in calling this farce of a result a tie, has lost what was left of its credibility.

[sheikdetailfeather]

Breaking News: Rick Santorum Won Iowa

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/01/19/breaking-news-rick-santorum-won-iowa/

By 34 votes, Rick Santorum won Iowa. For the past two weeks we have heard Mitt Romney was the first non-incumbent to win both Iowa and New Hampshire. Wrong!

The Des Moines Register reports Rick Santorum won. More troubling for the Iowa GOP, the GOP reports it will never have a completely accurate vote count because the votes in some precincts have gone missing.

The only thing that can be said for sure is Rick Santorum is the real winner.

If Newt Gingrich now wins South Carolina, we are in for a heck of a ride.

[niteowl77]

If this is to be the official position of the Iowa GOP, I don't know who's bigger clowns, them or the media...

Oh, if you are looking for clowns, the Iowa GOP is the place to be. The state's Democrats are generally loudmouthed and hateful, but not totally inept. For rubber-nosed, big-shoed, zany cluelessness, you can't beat Hawkeye Republicans, be they ineffective semi-hereditary placeholders in one of our moribund county organizations or part of the real estate/gambling/insurance cabal in Des M.

Mitt is perfect for them.

Mr. niteowl77

[sheikdetailfeather]

Isn’t it interesting that some votes have ...”gone missing” to muddy the waters in a tight race? Remember the truck was on the way with the votes and then that was not true and then they were “looking for the votes?” It took almost 2 hours for that to happen and Rove came on saying the final votes will probably be in Romneys favor.

[bray]

What was all that about nobody has won both IA and NH stuff? Now a win is a tie? Vote against the establishment corruption.

Pray for America

[Happy Rain]

If Mitt had a gram of grace or class, he would call a press conference to congratulate Rick Santorum the REAL winner of Iowa!

But I may as well wait for the ocean to dry.

[MrEdd]

The greatest result from this will be...Perry partisans demanding even more vociferously that Santorum withdraw from the race.

[sheikdetailfeather]

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2012/01/19/hero-or-spoiler-rick-perry-will-quit-the-question-is-as-what/

Hero or Spoiler: Rick Perry Will Quit. The Question is as What.

Posted by Erick Erickson (Diary)

Thursday, January 19th at 4:45AM EST

Yesterday, I argued that Rick Perry should leave the GOP primary in advance of Saturday’s election and endorse Newt Gingrich, who is the most logical fit in the existing field for a Perry endorsement.

The Perry campaign responded that the race would be decided by voters, not pundits behind a computer.

Fair enough. Rick Perry does not want to be seen as a quitter. But quit he will. I do not want him to quit. I urged him to stay in the race. But sadly his campaign has been unable to get the second look I thought it deserved. Now, at this point, he and I both know he is going to quit the race. The only question is whether he quits now and saves us from Romney or quits Sunday and ensures us Romney.

It may suck, but it is reality. And we are forced at times like this to deal with reality. The reality is that Rick Perry will be quitting the race, but he is not quitting the fight, which has always been more important. We started campaign season with candidates asking what Washington can do for America. Through his singlehanded, tireless, and unfailing efforts, Rick Perry has managed to steer the conversation to what Washington cannot do for America and what Americans can do themselves if Washington just gets the hell out of the way.

Without Rick Perry in the race, that would never have happened. But sadly, at this point, with Rick Perry in the race the people most likely to campaign and govern with Perry’s conviction to make Washington as inconsequential in our lives as possible have no chance. For Rick Perry’s vision of America to win — something we should all want — Rick Perry must depart the race now.

It’s not like I relish taking this position. I introduced Rick Perry at the 2011 RedState Gathering as the next President of the United States. He remains the best qualified man to be President. I would be thrilled to have him as my President. But he is polling in last place and there are three days to go. It isn’t going to happen.

But throwing his support to one of the other non-Romney candidates could help that person win.

Rick Perry will quit. He knows it. I know it. You know it. The question is whether he will quit before Saturday’s primary and help someone else win as a hero and king maker, or will he quit next week and see Mitt Romney win with Perry serving as the spoiler, keeping either Gingrich or Santorum from winning.

[Democrat_media]

Santorum needs to quit and allow Gingrich to win. Santorum is just helping Romney get the nomination.Santorum is wrong in supporting this horrible tyranny called SOPA which allows government to censor and destroy the Internet.

He is no conservative.

[mewzilla]

Don'cha just love the ruling class...

Forget a third party.

We need a second one.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Local News Day After:

CNN International Now:

"Report: Iowa results show 'virtual tie' between Romney, Santorum By the CNN Wire Staff January 19, 2012 -- Updated 1221 GMT (2021 HKT)

Go ahead and Google the news. The mainstream media cannot bring themselves, based on an Iowa GOP lacking cajones, to use the following three words in one sentence: "Iowa", "Wins", "Santorum"."

Yet, look at all the press titled "Romney Wins Iowa" from two weeks ago, steeped in "inevitability and triumphalism". Tell me that the fix ain't in on this.

[mo]

We the People are short a few yard of rope and some lamposts....

[AmericanInTokyo]

Excellent thought. Great tactic. The mass media won’t ask it but in the next debate before South Carolina, on Thursday, somehow, and it will be a challenge, Santorum somehow has to get Romney to comment on Iowa and issue a congratulatory to him within the context of that debate, and shatter all this MSM “Romney Won Both Iowa and New Hampshire” narrative. We gotta blow a 45 foot hole right through the center of it. Mass media maps showing which candidate won each primary or caucus state, also need to be changed.

[mewzilla]

Of course the fix is in. The ruling class is determined to get what it wants by fair means or foul. RNC. DNC. There is no longer a difference.

[Diogenesis]

Iowans cannot be trusted ... ever again.

Like Romney.

[AnTiw1]

Gives an answer to the question of whether “Perrywinkle” or “Perrysite” is the more descriptive and exculpatory epithet. Parasitic indeed. Feeding off Republicans while contributing nothing.

[Caipirabob]

...And SnippyMcMittCare wept...

[rawhide]

How in the world can the votes from 8 preceints be missing? This is criminal!

[AmericanInTokyo]

GREEN: SANTORUM ORANGE: ROMNEY (Per Wikipedia just now).

Real Clear Politics and other sites have not revised their tote boards and still show Romney the winner in Iowa.

[Diogenesis]

At the end of the day,
Team Romney and their metamorphic
poser-plastic disingenuous Master
are shown to be quite capable of proven fraud
-- yet AGAIN

[Cato in PA]

This just isn’t Willard’s week, is it? His offshore tax havens are exposed, McCain’s 2008 opposition research came out, a new book called The Real Romney has even more of the ugly truth, and now he didn’t even have his “historic” win.

Mittens is in for a world of hurt tonight. Newt and the Ricks (sounds like a band, doesn’t it?) will destroy him.

[Diogenesis]

[USS Alaska]

who knows what went on, call it a draw and be done with it.

Call it what it was, a victory for Santorum.

I'm not on Rick's bandwagon, but fair is fair.

This should show Iowa for what it is, a joke and a nation of 310,000,000 should never let a little bunch of corn huskers dominate the entire voting process because they want to be first.

Screw Iowa, they rail about how much they care about the political process, and yet they can't be TRUSTED to count their own screwy cauci votes.

How in the hell can any one lose votes?

If you can't count, you have no right to be first.

Iowans, go slop the hogs, that's all you can do with any credibility.

I await an apology from any Iowa resident for your state being too screwed up to be first.

[lquist1]

“Call it what it was, a victory for Santorum.

I’m not on Rick’s bandwagon, but fair is fair.”

Absolutely right. I’m not for Santorum either, but as many others have said, Romney and his shills have been out there the past couple weeks with the “a win is a win” line, so no need to change the rules now. Bottom line-Romney LOST Iowa!

[dools007]

I thought Iowa was a primary winner takes all state. No?

[Shelayne]

This is unfreakingbelievable.

So, they cannot account for EIGHT counties? This is ridiculous. They want to deny Santorum his WIN, so this is totally bogus. Honest to pete, they will do anything to keep Mitt the “top dog”. Sorry, but he is TOAST. Whether it’s in the primary or the general (coughspitgag), Romney is TOAST.

Santorum needs to claim victory. Let the Romney mafia try to deny it.

I am DONE with the GOP.

[Shelayne]

correction: eight PRECINCTS. Arrrrgh. Need coffee.

[manc]

the elitist establishment will do anything to not have a proper full blown conservative on the ticket.

Open primaries, letting Dems pick our candidate, start in the small north east liberal area of NH .

What I mean by a full blown proper conservative is not some half baked pansy liberal conservative.

The elitist establishment got what they wanted in their headlines and got their candidate what he needed to get him going.

Rick S and Newt please get in talks and one drop out and maybe even promise the other a VP spot so we can take out Romney, the establishment etc

As for Perry , sadly and I say this as someone who supported him, please drop out you have no chance pal of winning anywhere, hell not even top 3

[Grunthor]

That is what I was thinking. If those votes are missing never to be found then Rick won by far more than 34 votes.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

No. It was neither a primary nor a winner take all State.

[bigdirty]

When shit like this happens it really gives the impression there’s vote rigging and corruption in play to get Romney the nomination.

[Personal Responsibility]

Despite Santorum’s advantage, the state Republican party views the results as a wash.

---

When Romney won by 8 votes it was “A win is a win” but now that Santorum has won it’s “a wash”. And you wonder why people hate the Republican establishment!

[dools007]

Yep, it was a caucus thing. Thanks. You answered my question.

Given there was no talk of a split when Romney(care) thought he won by 8 votes, it’s amazing Santorum did as well as he did. Obviously he was fighting the entire Iowa demrat-controlled RINO establishment.

[Personal Responsibility]

What is so hard about logging the total number of ballots cast in each precinct, tallying them, checking the math, put all the ballots in a sealed envelope and report the results to a central location.The sealed envelope is held by a designated person for one month in case of recounts, or sent to a central location, and logged in.

---

If they do it your way it is extremely hard to cheat in order to ensure victory for the person they want to win.

[Jordo]

“And in calling this a tie, the RNC is now as corrupt as the DNC. “

Please get your facts straight. The RNC (Republican National Committee) didn’t have anything to do with it. It was the Republican Party of Iowa. That’s clear from the Des Moines Register article.

[redgolum]

Because Romney will be the nominee. No matter what.

He is weak enough to be beat by Obama, and that is what the GOP wants.

[Personal Responsibility]

You forgot the Establishment headline:

The People have spoken The race is over. Romney's the nominee!

[liberalh8ter]

Why wasn’t it a “split decision” when Mittens was up by 8? I’m seriously getting sick of the pitiful and corrupt election process in this Country. America trotted the globe bringing Democracy to the oppressed only to show that we are the antithesis of the very system we espoused.