Michele Bachmann Edges Ron Paul in Iowa Straw Poll

On Saturday, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames.

The straw poll is traditionally seen as a test for how the candidates will do in the Iowa caucus, the traditional first stop toward the presidential nomination. This year the caucus will be held on Feb. 6.

Bachmann won the event with 4,823 votes followed by U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas in second with 4,671. Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota, who worked the state hard, spending more than $1 million in Iowa, came in a distant third with 2,293 votes. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania placed fourth with 1,657 while businessman Herman Cain took fifth with 1,456 votes. Four candidates who did not focus on the event followed -- Gov. Rick Perry of Texas who announced his bid on Saturday garnered 718 write-in votes; former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts had 567 votes, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia gained 385 votes and former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah had 69 votes. U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter of Michigan lagged behind with 35 votes.

Full story to come in Sunshine State News.

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