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Runner-up Huckabee Big Winner in Iowa

Showing could catapult GOP longshot into top echelon

By Jonas Oransky,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 12, 2007 9:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee was a surprise winner in Iowa's straw poll yesterday when he came in a strong second, which may have catapulted him into the top tier. He pulled 18.1% of the vote to Mitt Romney’s 31.5%. Huckabee's performance is particularly impressive given that he spent almost no money on the race, report's Politico's Roger Simon.

Huckabee, who’d said he’d drop his candidacy without a strong third-place finish, took aim at what he characterized as Romney’s candy coating of the issues. He'll likely find himself in the money now, because the “silver medal is more important than the gold," said Salon’s Michael Scherer.

Republican presidential hopeful former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee talks to the media after he finished second to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa, Saturday, Aug 11, 2007. (AP Photo/David Lienemann)
Republican presidential hopeful former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee talks to the media after he finished second to former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Iowa Straw Poll in Ames, Iowa, Saturday,...   (Associated Press)
Republican Presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee points to food stands on the grand concourse, Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Republican Presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee points to food stands on the grand concourse, Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)   (Associated Press)
Republican Presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, left, and his wife Janet, eat pork chops on a stick, Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Republican Presidential hopeful, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, left, and his wife Janet, eat pork chops on a stick, Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie...   (Associated Press)
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