Mitt Romney’s narrow eight-vote win in Iowa was good enough for most, but Rick Santorum insisted on a recount.
With such a narrow margin, Santorum said he was sure he would come out ahead with a recount, considering not all the precincts were counted.
The Republican party announced new results this morning with Santorum carrying a 34-vote lead over Romney. But with eight of the 1,774 precincts unable to be located, NBC News said the race is just too close to call.
Although Santorum celebrated victory this morning in a campaign email which reads “Santorum wins Iowa”, Romney said he was happy to share the victory with his fellow candidate.
“This results from Iowa caucus last night revealed a virtual tie,” Romney said in a Facebook post this morning. “We once again recognize Rick Santorum for his strong performance in the state.”
New results in Iowa aren’t the only thing shaking up Romney’s campaign. Earlier this morning, Texas Gov. Rick Perry dropped out of the race and is now backing former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
The sudden move by Perry aims at slowing down the “Romney Rage” in South Carolina this weekend, according to The Los Angeles Times.
“I have come to the conclusion that there is not a viable path forward for me in 2012,” Perry read in his announcement this morning.
He later acknowledged although he and Gingrich have had their differences in the past, he felt the former Speaker is “a conservative visionary who can transform our country.”
The new spike in the Gingrich campaign only puts Romney ahead by 1.2 percent in South Carolina, according to the Real Clear Politics average.
With his lead diminishing and two drastic impacts on his campaign leveling the playing field, Romney will have to fight over the next few days to stay on top.
