Romney's opponents have complained about the cost of his straw poll campaign, estimated at more than $5 million. Romney said he didn't know the price tag for the straw poll but argued money spent on television commercials and campaign materials were aimed at building support for the election that counts, the caucus vote that could come as soon as mid-December.

Competing in the straw poll, though, isn't cheap. Most candidates usually pay for the $35 ticket it takes to cast a vote, as well as for transportation to this central Iowa college town from around the state. Once would-be supporters are there, they expect to be fed and entertained.

Huckabee said he had twice as many votes as tickets purchased and could not afford to bus in his supporters. "Even though we were outspent a dime to every dollar bill, people still turned out here," he said.

The results are expected to narrow the Republican field.

Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson, who included a shot of supporters holding signs asking, "Please Send Money" in a video that aired before his speech to straw poll participants, had said he would drop out of the running if he didn't finish first or second Saturday.

He was sixth.

Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, who has run for president before as a Libertarian, finished fifth. Paul, the only GOP candidate calling for an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq, told the Morning News he would stay in the race "as long as the campaign is strong and growing."

Tancredo isn't complaining about Romney's money, said Bay Buchanan, who is helping run Tancredo's campaign. Buchanan, who managed her brother Pat Buchanan's three presidential bids, said Tancredo will continue to run a low-cost grassroots campaign supported by those who agree with his opposition to illegal immigration.

And although Romney's membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has been seen by many as an issue in the presidential race, Buchanan disagreed.

"I don't buy it and I'm a Mormon," she said. "What concerns me as a member of the church is if he doesn't succeed ... there will be an effort by some to suggest it is because of his religion" rather than his politics.

Romney's Mormonism has "become less and less of an issue" among evangelical voters, according to Iowa Christian Alliance President Steve Scheffler. "They're looking for people who can lead by moral example. ... I think he's begun to convince a lot of people he'll be OK if he's elected."

Romney's relatively recent pro-life stance isn't hurting him, Scheffler said. "We welcome converts. We certainly don't want to chastise people," he said. Romney ran on a pro-choice platform against Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy, a Democrat, in 1994, and didn't call for an end to legal abortions until after he was elected governor of Massachusetts in 2002.