(Daniel Acker/Reuters)
As expected by most observers (and to the delight of Daily Kos members, I suspect), Michele Bachmann has won the Iowa Straw Poll, earning a bit of bragging rights over the other primary candidates. We'll update with the full results as soon as we can.
This is good news for John McCain Sarah Palin Rick Perry someone, no doubt. It is also good news for the Obama campaign, which gets to take notes as each of these candidates jumps farther and farther right in their efforts to cater to the particularly nutty brand of primary voters that will be deciding which of these candidates wins the Republican nomination. Whoever it is, by the time the GOP convention rolls around they will have provided many hours of video of themselves saying very crazy things to very crazy people, and being proud of doing it.
That, however, is a long way off. This was the opening bell: now the real race begins. Well, not now, but soon. Soon-ish, anyway ... six months from now, when the Iowa Caucus takes place (this was just a straw poll, and is entirely symbolic.)
So, this was the pre-opening-bell bell.
3:50 PM PT: According to CSPAN, here are the totals:
Michele Bachmann: 4823
Ron Paul: 4671
Tim Pawlenty: 2293
Rick Santorum: 1657
Herman Cain: 1456
Mitt Romney: 567
Newt Gingrich: 385
Jon Huntsman: 69
Thad McCotter: 35
Total votes cast: 16,892
3:52 PM PT: Rick Perry had 718 write ins, putting him well below Herman Cain, but above Mitt Romney.
