Romney said lower voter turnout did not diminish win.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney refused Sunday to let a low turnout and the absence of some notable opponents diminish his dominant victory in Iowa's Republican Party Straw Poll.

Romney said the straw poll did just what it was designed to do: Allow candidates demonstrate support that could propel them to victory in the state's caucuses this winter.

He maintained the decisions by New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Sen. John McCain of Arizona not to participate reflected his campaign's strength.

"I think if they thought they could have won, they would have been here," Romney said on Fox News Sunday. "If you can't compete in the heartland, if you can't compete in Iowa in August, how are you going to compete in January when the caucuses are held, and how
are you going to compete in November of '08?"

Romney had been expected to win the test, largely an exercise reflecting a candidate's organizational strengths, because he spent millions of dollars and months of effort on the event.

Romney scored 4,516 votes, 31.5 percent, to outpace former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee who had 2,587 votes, 18.1 percent. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback was third with 2,192 votes, 15.3 percent.

Eight years ago, about 23,000 people voted in the straw poll. On Saturday, only about 14,000 did. Romney attributed the turnout to heat and the expectation that he would be a runaway victor.

"I got a higher percentage even than the president got eight years ago," Romney said. "It was a warm day, and actually, it was difficult turning people out."

Brownback called his third-place finish "a ticket on board to the caucuses" and downplayed Romney's victory.

"I think Mitt Romney has probably hit on top of his ceiling," said Brownback on ABC's "This Week."

While Romney won handily, Huckabee made the case for why his showing may be the most important story coming out of the straw poll. Huckabee said his showing was impressive because he had little money to spend.

"You have taken a minimum amount of resources and made a maximum amount of gain," Huckabee told backers.

Brownback and Huckabee had waged a fierce competition for the loyalty of influential social and religious conservatives.