Bachmann garners narrow win in Ames Straw poll, Perry surprises and Pawlety is Toast!

So the results from the Iowa GOP are in. . .

1. Michele Bachmann 4823 votes 

2. Ron Paul 4671, votes 

3. Tim Pawlenty 2293 votes 

4. Rick Santorum 1657 votes 

5. Herman Cain 1456 votes 

6. Rick Perry 718 write-in votes 

7. Mitt Romney 567 votes 

8. Newt Gingrich 385 votes 

9. Jon Huntsman 69 votes 

10. Congressman Thad McCotter  35 votes 

Very few surprises tonight. I don’t think Ron Paul’s strong showing will translate into a GOP presidential bid  -though it does create an interesting quandary for the Republican party. Plenty of commentators are going to say that Bachmann under performed in the straw poll, but given that expectations for her performance were so high and that she entered the campaign so late, tonight the Bachmann folks will certainly be celebrating. I believe this is the end of the line for Tim Pawlenty, in recent weeks his staff made mention that they were performing very strongly in Florida. But I think Pawlenty is going to drop out within weeks on the  hope that Mitt Romney decides to tap him as the VP.  I am surprised by Rick Perry’s strong showing as a write-in candidate; it will be interesting to watch how that support holds up now that he is going to be subjected to the record vetting any presidential candidate must endure.