By John Loop
Staff Writer
Texas Rep. Ron Paul, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum are caught in a close race in Iowa’s Republican Caucus.
The results, at last tally early Tuesday evening, from 538 of 1,774 precincts showed Romney, Santorum and Paul each with 23 percent. The three leaders were separated by a total 171 votes among them.
The trio was followed loosely by Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (13 percent), and the oft-ridiculed Texas Governor Rick Perry (10 percent).
All of the candidates worked hard to sway voters, spending a combined estimate of $13 million for television advertising, and also made thousands of campaign stops throughout the nation.
Bragging rights are not the only prize at stake, as the Republican nominating campaign turns to primaries in New Hampshire on Jan. 10, then South Carolina and Florida before the end of the month.
