Irish Bookie Lays Odds on N.H., Issues Refunds on Santorum

While Mitt Romney may have beaten Rick Santorum by 8 votes, Paddy Power, the largest oddsmaker in Ireland, is giving refunds to those who thought the former Pennsylvania senator would win in Iowa. On Wednesday, a day after Romney beat Santorum by 8 votes in the Hawkeye State, Paddy Power issued $6,422 in refunds.

Having lost by only 8 votes the Rick Santorum supporters had every reason to be disappointed, but as far as were concerned the margin for error is just too small and weve decided to refund the money, said a spokesman for Paddy Power on Thursday.

Paddy Power clearly does not think New Hampshire will be as close. Romney is a 1-25 favorite to win the primary on Tuesday while Santorum gets 16-1 odds. Jon Huntsman gets 18-1 odds while Ron Paul stands at 20-1 and Newt Gingrich is at 25-1. Rick Perry -- who is trailing Buddy Roemer in a poll Suffolk University released on Thursday -- is an 80-1 underdog in the Granite State.