[BillyBoy]

And the numbers are IN! Thank you Iowa. With 96% of the total:

http://www.google.com/elections/ed/us/results
Rick Santorum 29,051 24.7% 62 counties won
Mitt Romney 28,938 24.6% 17 counties won
Ron Paul 25,121 21.3% 12 counties won
Newt Gingrich 15,639 13.3% 0 counties won <-- OWED!!!

The fans of the "conservative" guy who won 0 counties (Newt Gingrich) are now saying the conservative guy who won 62 counties (Rick Santorum) should "drop out" and endorse their guy so he can "stop Romney". At least Hillary could point to winning a decent share of delegates when she said the guy with 52% of the Democrat vote should drop out and be her running mate.

And yes, they're STILL foaming at the mouth about Santorum's Specter endorsement yet cheering on a guy who HAPPILY and DEFIANTLY endorsed THIS thing. At least Specter was pro-gun and confirmed some decent judges, more than be said for Newt's FAR-LEFT 'lady' friend here who never met a marxist scheme she didn't like:

Newt's fans are sounding to sound like Weiner defenders in the dying days of Anthony Weiner's congressional career, desperately trying to change the subject and howl about David Vitter's sex life whenever photos of Weiner's weiner are splashed all over the internet.

Pathetic spectical, really. It gets ugly seeing Newt for POTUS on life support.

[dfwgator]

Newt had his chance but it’s clear now that he’s peaked, it’s down to Santorum vs Romney.

[Impy]

1 or 2 precincts left and Santorum is up over Mitt by less than 20 votes.

[Califreak]

Just out of curiosity, I looked up the Iowa results for 2008.

McCain took the number 4 spot(about 13%)and wound up being the GOP nominee.

I’m voting for Santorum in the primary and whoever is running against Obama in the general.

I’m happy that Santorum took it, but I’m not going to gloat or hold my breath.

2008 was a wild and sometimes painful ride. One by one, people dropped out and at the oddest times...

[Sun]

Thanks for the update.

Wow, 62 counties for Santorum!

[caww]

Always trying to rain on someones parade...can’t you let it rest and enjoy the scenery now and then...it’s been an interesting race tonight and most are happy Romney didn’t have the slam dunk victory he thought....how aboutt letting us all gloat that Romney isn’t in the shape he thinks he’s in...and when the tally’s in maybe we can call him..looser!

[Windflier]

Try not to get too excited about the Iowa Caucus. The winner hasn’t gone on to be the nominee, then win the general election in too many years to count.

Iowa has become nearly irrelevant, except for bragging rights. Same for New Hampshire. South Carolina and Florida are the real tests of true grit, and will separate the real players from the also rans.