Dear Commons Community,

In the first Republican contest of the season, Mitt Romney being was declared the winner by eight ballots over Rick Santorum.  Candidate Ron Paul was a close third in the race.  Other candidates Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann were way behind the leaders.

The outcome offered Santorum a chance to emerge as the alternative to Mr. Romney as the race moves to New Hampshire and South Carolina.  Gingrich, Perry and Bachmann will have to assess the viability of their candidacies given their poor showings and it is likely that Perry and Bachmann may end their candidacies soon.

The Iowa caucus is just a beginning and its results are non-binding when it comes to picking Iowa’s 25 delegates to the GOP convention next summer in Tampa. However, it does make for good political theater for the start of the New Year!

Tony