In the first step of the U.S. presidential primary for selecting the Republican presidential nominee in this year’s election, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney won the Iowa Caucus with 24.6 percent on Tuesday (January 3), triumphing just barely over former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum who garnered 24.5 percent followed by Texas Congressman Ron Paul in third at 21.4 percent. View Romney’s Iowa victory speech here.
Other presidential hopefuls such as former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (13.3 percent) and former Texas Governor Rick Perry (10.3 percent) received double-digit percentages, while Minnesota Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (5 percent) and former Chinese Ambassador Jon Huntsman, Jr. (0.6 percent) were in single digits.
The lack of support in Iowa was enough to convince Congresswoman Bachmann to drop out of the race. At a press conference on Wednesday, she stated:
“Last night, the people of Iowa spoke with a very clear voice, so I have decided to stand aside. I have no regrets, none whatsoever. We never compromised our principles and we can leave this race knowing we ran it with the utmost integrity.”
Her spokeswoman announced that she “just made up her mind about this this morning” and “she hasn’t made a decision” about her political future, which might include running for re-election in Congress. No word on whom she’ll be endorsing, if anyone, as the fight for a Republican presidential nominee continues.
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responsible end was a cause that sparked many Americans to get involved in the political process for the first time. Today’s outcome is a reminder that we all have a stake in our country’s future, and a say in the direction we choose.
