Iowa vote goes down to the wire

The race between Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum was too close to call tonight as the results of the Iowa caucuses neared completion.

slider -- Republican presidential candidate Congressman Ron Paul speaks to supporters at his Iowa Caucus night rally in Ankeny, Iowa, January 3, 2012. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS ELECTIONS POLITICS)

Jim Young/REUTERS

Ron Paul addressed supporters in his night rally in Ankeny, Iowa after his third place finish.

slider -- Republican presidential candidate former House Speaker Newt Gingrich speaks during his caucus night rally as his wife Callista applauds in Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Chris Carlson/associated press

After his fourth place finish in the Iowa caucuses, Newt Gingrich said the race for the Republican nomination was just beginning.

SLIDER IMAGE -- Republican presidential candidate, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, second from left, looks over Iowa republican presidential caucus returns with campaign staff in his hotel room Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, in Johnston, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

charlie riedel/associated press

Rick Santorum looked at caucus results with campaign staff in his hotel room in Johnston, Iowa.

SLIDER--Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney (L) and his wife Ann greet audience members at a campaign rally in Des Moines, Iowa January 3, 2012, the day of the Iowa caucus. REUTERS/Brian Snyder (UNITED STATES - Tags: POLITICS TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Brian Snyder/REUTERS

Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife, Ann, greeted supporters at a rally today in Des Moines.

SLIDER-- Voters debate during a caucus of precinct 42 near Smithland, Iowa, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum shared the straw poll ballot with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann in a caucus race as jumbled as any in the 40 years since Iowa gained the presidential campaign lead-off position. (AP Photo/Dave Weaver)

Dave Weaver/associated press

Voters debated tonight during a caucus near Smithland, Iowa.

slider -- Jay Tessmer, of Clermont, Iowa, second from left, hands the hat to his son, Jacob Tessmer, 18, to deposit his ballot during the Republican caucus for Clermont and Pleasant Valley / Elgin precincts at the Clermont Opera House on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2011, in Clermont. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Liz Martin)

AP

slider -- Jay Tessmer, of Clermont, Iowa, second from left, hands the hat to his son, Jacob Tessmer, 18, to deposit his ballot during the Republican caucus for Clermont and Pleasant Valley / Elgin precincts at the Clermont Opera House on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2011, in Clermont. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Liz Martin)

Slider image -- Voters line up to register for the Republican caucus for Clermont and Pleasant Valley/Elgin precincts at the Clermont Opera House on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2011, in Clermont, Iowa. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Liz Martin)

AP

Slider image -- Voters line up to register for the Republican caucus for Clermont and Pleasant Valley/Elgin precincts at the Clermont Opera House on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2011, in Clermont, Iowa. (AP Photo/The Gazette, Liz Martin)

Iowa results

1705 of 1,774 precincts reporting
Rick Santorum
24.7%
29,051 votes
Mitt Romney
24.6%
28,938 votes
Ron Paul
21.3%
25,121 votes
Newt Gingrich
13.3%
15,639 votes
  • Rick Perry 10.3%
  • Michele Bachmann 5%
  • Jon Huntsman .6%
  • No Preference .1%

Scot Lehigh

Romney’s harvest

Regardless of who ultimately wins in Iowa, Mitt Romney’s showing is good news because he is better positioned for the long haul than either Ron Paul or Rick Santorum.

Volunteers prepared for the start of the caucus in Ankeny, Iowa.

Iowa caucuses kick off 2012 election season

After months of campaigning, the presidential nominating season officially began tonight with caucuses in the Hawkeye State.

Newt Gingrich calls Mitt Romney ‘a liar’

Gingrich, who was the frontrunner in Iowa just two weeks ago, said it was “baloney” that Romney had nothing to do with a barrage of negative campaign ads from an independent group.

“The State Police have said that this is consistent with what happens when someone falls asleep at the wheel and I believe that is what caused my accident.”

Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray 

Business

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Politics

Political notebook

Gingrich concedes in Iowa before first vote is cast

The former House speaker said he has learned a few things from the campaign in Iowa: Don’t let an attack go unanswered.

Nation & World

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Sports

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As the top seed in the AFC, Tom Brady and the Patriots earned their second bye week of the season, which began yesterday as a day off for players and a planning day for coaches.

Patriots looking to make the most of bye week

Coach Bill Belichick will have to strike a balance between giving players time to rest and making sure they get all necessary work accomplished during their playoff bye week.

Lifestyle

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Tania Cooper, exercising at Healthworks Community Fitness, is monitored by wellness coach Ashley Norwood.

Are you ready for wellness coaching?

Increasing numbers of health care officials are recognizing the benefits of prescribing individual counseling to treat some conditions, including obesity and diabetes.