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Tonight is the first multi-state night in the clown race we call the GOP nomination contest, with caucuses in Colorado and Minnesota, and a non-binding beauty contest in Missouri.
Results: CNN (CO, MO, MN) | Google (CO, MO, MN)
5:05 PM PT: As I noted yesterday, this is Rick Santorum's last chance to be relevant in this race. The polls give him leads in Minnesota and Missouri, with a strong second place in Colorado. If he manages to win those two out of three, he's essentially the new Not-Mitt-Romney, replacing a pathetic and obsolete Gingrich.
But if Romney survives by winning the two real contests (Colorado and Minnesota), it's hard to see anyone else mounting a long-term challenge en route to the Republican convention in Tampa.
5:08 PM PT (David Nir): Email from CBS News says: "No exit or entrance polls, so we expect most results and calls to come in late."
5:18 PM PT: Tim Pawlenty has emerged as a top Romney surrogate, and has obviously chaired his Minnesota campaign. So it's a bit pathetic hearing him use loser talk like this:
“It’s a relatively small turnout, and the caucus attendees here tend to gravitate to the most conservative candidate,” Pawlenty said in a conference call with reporters. He quickly corrected himself to say “the most perceived conservative candidate.”
Pawlenty noted that in 2008, about 60,000 voters turned out for Minnesota’s GOP caucuses. If a similar share participates this time, it would represent about 2 percent of the state’s 3 million registered voters. He said all four candidates could be “bunched together toward the top of the pack.”
5:19 PM PT (David Nir): The very first trickle of votes (and I do mean trickle... Santorum leads with 9 - not 9%, 9 votes) is coming in in Missouri.
5:22 PM PT (David Nir): The Missouri Secretary of State's website seems to be slightly ahead of CNN's. They're showing Santorum with a 48-30 lead over Romney, but with just 0.4% of precincts reporting.
5:24 PM PT:
"Uncommited": for when not voting in a meaningless primary just isn't enough. #MOprimary
— @jesseltaylor via web
5:31 PM PT (David Nir): Results are also starting to trickle in in Minnesota, too.
5:38 PM PT: Gingrich isn't on the ballot in Missouri, but uncommitted is. With about 11 percent currently uncommitted, we can ponder -- are those Gingrich supporters, or Republicans giving the middle finger to their field?
5:40 PM PT: Ron Paul, making a direct pitch at a caucus, rants about gold. How perfect is that?
5:49 PM PT (Kaili Joy Gray): The liveblogging continues in the next thread.