BREAKING: Romney calls Santorum
(CNN) - Mitt Romney made a "polite" phone call Thursday to rival Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum to "concede victory" in Iowa, according to Santorum's spokesman Hogan Gidley.
But Romney's team objected, saying his campaign didn't concede.
"Gov. Romney called Sen. Santorum to congratulate him on the Iowa results," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.
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Another top campaign aide told CNN: “He just called him. They talked, and he recognized his efforts."
Santorum finished the Iowa Republican caucuses 34 votes ahead of Mitt Romney, but results from several precincts are missing and the full actual results may never be known, according to a final certified tally released Thursday by the Iowa GOP.
The new numbers show 29,839 votes for Santorum and 29,805 votes for Romney, according to the party.
Original returns on election night on January 3 showed Romney edging Santorum by eight votes.
–CNN's Candy Crowley and Rachel Streitfeld contributed to this report.
Also see:
Perry drops out, endorses Gingrich
Polls: South Carolina primary tightening hours before crucial debate
Gingrich as compares Romney's 'desperate' attacks to 2008 campaign
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Win for conservatives
Looks like the GOP establishment tried to cheat the moronic tparty conservatives out of their vote because they know that Romney is the only one with a remote chance of beating the President. Why am I not surprised??? Its really disgusting. They know that the tparty people are to stupid to vote for someone electable so they tried to do it for them.
The "...full actual results may never be known?!?" This is a democracy; votes count! Iowa, are you some Third World corn republic, or just incompetent like most of the Republican candidates?
So, Santorum wins in Iowa. Now who's the front runner? All this hoopla for Romney and he's NOT the one to watch. Santorum is a dark horse, who's going to win the nomination.
Rmoney called Santorum to quit and endorse him! GOP can not afford a prolong primary battle and can't afford a Gingrich nomination!!!!!
anybody.....but.....romney.....VOTE NEWT.....!
Romney once again showing he is a class act. The real loser is Iowa. Really? We rely on you to be the first in the nation and you still are missing 8 precincts?
noXcuses – "They know that the tparty people are to stupid to vote for someone electable so they tried to do it for them"
That would be "too stupid" genius not "to stupid" but obviously you liberals know better than all, right?
If Romney loses to obutthead it will be because he is nice.... you don't deal with the devil nicely.
if Romney loses to O'Barry it will because he is nice...you see what you get here. You don't deal with the cold eyed obama nicely...and win....or do you?
What a shock so in the end mitt wasn't as strong as everybody thought he was and is this how he is going to beat the President. ROLMAO so in the end it was 2 wins – I. mitt romney will never beat President Barack Obama even if Obama
drops out of the race.
Rommney needs to pull out and enorse Santorum. Any thing else will lead to a second term for Barrack Hussein Obama. Then the revolution starts and we take back our country from the TYRRRANY of democrats and appeasement Rinos.
What about Mitt denouncing what he said: "we have made history" while giving his speech. No history was made. He is back again to square one.
So, the Iowa Republicans either completely dropped the ball, or totally rigged the system. Neither scenario is good. It just goes to show how trustworthy Republicans really are. They should have let a Democrat secure and count the ballots.
@ ABR...! "anybody.....but.....romney.....VOTE NEWT.....!"
Anybody but Newt! Newt CANNOT and WILL NOT be the nominee of the Republican Party as his extensive baggage will prevent him from winning in November. Four more years of Obama's misery is guaranteed should Newt win the nomination.
I bet it was very hard for Mitt Romney
But Romney's team objected, saying his campaign didn't concede. "Gov. Romney called Sen. Santorum to congratulate him on the Iowa results," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.
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Even the spolespersons flip-flop. Which is it, now? You call to congratulate the other guy's victory, but you didn't actually concede the fact that the other guy won. Like I said, flip-flop
I think people like play game voter for santorun but he can't beat presdient obama. If people will see to roomey keep face against presdient obama
Good for Romney, that is a class act thing to do. Even a Democrat can recognize that.
The GOP are so confused, they baffled a rigged voting....I mean, they dont even know what they want.
Anything to keep the focus off of Ron Paul.
They will make it even easier for Ron Paul!
did anybody expect the truth from the mixed mex mitt camp?????
Santorum knows he doesn't have a prayer. His run is all about securing the VP slot.
What's even more disturbing is that Iowa keeps it's status as being the first in the nation to vote in the primaries. They should lose that privilege