Ames Straw Poll: Final results

Some quick thoughts on the numbers. . .

Michele Bachmann’s campaign had been hoping for 6,000-plus votes, so the thin margin over Ron Paul was a bit of a surprise. Tim Pawlenty’s campaign talked about finishing near the front of the pack, and he did, but they can’t be happy with how far he trailed both Bachmann and Paul.

Rick Santorum’s finish can be viewed as a sort of a moral victory; he’s campaigned hard in Iowa. And as a write-in Rick Perry beat Mitt Romney, who was on the ballot, which can’t have pleased Romney’s supporters.

Also, Rep, Thad McCotter’s campaign paid $18,000 for a campaign space here in Ames. That came down to $514 per vote. --James Oliphant

1. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (4823, 28.55%)

2. Congressman Ron Paul (4671, 27.65%)

3. Governor Tim Pawlenty (2293, 13.57%)

4. Senator Rick Santorum (1657, 9.81%)

5. Herman Cain (1456, 8.62%)

6. Governor Rick Perry (718, 3.62%) write-in

7. Governor Mitt Romney (567, 3.36%)

8. Speaker Newt Gingrich (385, 2.28%)

9. Governor Jon Huntsman (69, 0.41%)

10. Congressman Thad McCotter (35, 0.21%)