Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) won the Iowa Straw Poll this evening, carrying 4823 votes out of the 16,892 cast or 29% of the total. She was followed by Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) with 28% and Fmr. Gov. Tim Pawlenty with 14%.
Rep. Bachmann was one of the six candidates who spoke to voters on the campus of Iowa State University in Ames. Other candidates included Herman Cain, Thaddeus McCotter, and Rick Santorum. Newt Gingrich, Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney also appeared on the ballot but did not speak at today's event.
The straw poll traditionally takes place in August in years without an incumbent Republican president running for re-election. Iowa residents over the age of 18 years old could vote for one of the nine Republican candidates on the straw poll ballot. The 32-year old event is also a fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party.
Earlier today, Texas Governor Rick Perry (R) announced that he is running for president. Promising to bring his job creation program to the White House, Gov. Perry proclaimed "a renewed nation needs a new president."
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