Romney Sees Narrow Iowa Victory

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) — Mitt Romney defeated Rick Santorum by eight votes in Tuesday’s Iowa GOP presidential caucuses, the state Republican Party said early Wednesday, confirming Romney narrowly fended off an upstart challenger who just weeks ago polled in the single digits.

Ron Paul finished a close third, according to the state GOP. And Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who placed fifth, said late Tuesday that he would return to his home state to consider whether his campaign would continue.

Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, had 30,015 votes, just above Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania, who had 30,007, the state GOP said. Each had roughly 25% of the vote.

Paul, a U.S. representative from Texas, had 21%. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich was at 13%. Perry was at 10%, Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota had 5%, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman had 1%.

Romney has long been a front-runner in Iowa and most national polls, though he also has been stuck at roughly the same percentage of support as a revolving cast of conservative challengers bounced up and down, with Santorum the latest to rise.

Speaking to supporters in Des Moines early Wednesday, before final results were known, Romney framed the Iowa contest as a “great victory” for him, Santorum and Paul.

“All three of us will be campaigning very hard to restore the heart and soul of this nation,” Romney said, before taking aim at President Barack Obama.