From Deseret News archives:

Obama and Huckabee win Iowa caucus

Mitt pledges to return to Iowa — as GOP nominee

Published: Friday, Jan. 4, 2008 12:21 a.m. MST
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney outspent and, he said, outworked his competition in Iowa but still lost Thursday night's caucus vote to rival Mike Huckabee.

At press time, with 93 percent of precincts reporting, Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, was leading with 34 percent to Romney's 25 percent. Former Sen. Fred Thompson, R-Tenn., and Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., were tied for third, each with 13 percent of the vote. Rep. Ron Paul, who has attracted supporters with his Libertarian views, was fifth with a 10 percent showing, while former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who did not campaign hard in Iowa, was sixth with 3 percent.

Romney, trying to be upbeat at what was supposed to be his victory party, pledged to supporters that he would be back to Iowa — as the Republican nominee.

"Just because you win silver in one event doesn't mean you're not going to win the gold in the final event," Romney said after congratulating Huckabee on his victory in the Hawkeye state — the first nationally to vote in the process that chooses the Republican and Democratic party presidential nominees. The former Massachusetts governor, a relative political unknown himself entering the campaign, spent huge amounts of money and time to secure an Iowa victory and with it front-runner status.

Story continues below
Romney did note that he'd still beaten the "three household names" in the race, McCain, Giuliani and Thompson," and pointed out that he, Huckabee and the night's Democratic winner, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, were all seen as new faces.

"Washington is broken and we're going to change that," Romney said. "Iowa said that tonight."

Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, who was campaigning with Romney in Iowa, agreed. "I don't see it as a crippling blow for Mitt in any way," he said, calling the vote a repudiation of Washington insiders that sends a message to Hillary Clinton and McCain.

Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who also joined Romney in last-minute campaigning in Iowa, felt second place was a good showing.

"Iowa is a really hard place to read," Cannon said, especially with nearly half of the caucusgoers expected to have been evangelicals. But, the congressman said, he felt no antagonism in the audience of nearly 500 people he addressed at a caucus tonight on Romney's behalf in Newton, a town about 30 minutes east of Des Moines.

"I think people voted for somebody they liked, not against someone for reasons like religious prejudice," Cannon said.

But Thursday night, at least, was about how Huckabee, once considered a near-fringe candidate, parlayed his experience as a Southern Baptist minister

Recent comments

Romney appears more dishonest than Bush.
Must run in the party.

Anonymous | Jan. 7, 2008 at 1:37 p.m.

MITT IS WONT BE PRESIDENT

REVELETION from above | Jan. 5, 2008 at 12:52 a.m.

Mitt Romney is the ONLY candidate with the brains to get this country...

Pac 10 Alumnus | Jan. 4, 2008 at 11:34 p.m.

Image
Win McNamee, Getty Images

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama thanks supporters following his solid victory in the Iowa caucuses. He captured 38 percent of the vote.

previousnext

Latest comments

Wonderful production. I hope many will take the opportunity to enjoy it!

They can't repay all of the money because they paid for their own kids higher...

personal issues aside, he is the best. we need to stay out of the personal...

Yes against good teams Boozer wants to play for he is great. Look at his...

I don't like it when players make promises like that. Making goals is one...

Letters: Explaining Palin

Anonymous | 9:22 a.m. you and all my Left Coast liberal friends are hoping...

you are kidding right? O Connor not afraid to make moves HA HA HA HA...

This is just going to make a good team better

Letters: Get rid of BCS

You are still going to have some of the same problems...it will just shift...

Josh Powell meets with WVC police

You are presumed innocent IN A COURT OF LAW until proven guilty. The court of...

Advertisements