Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney edged out former Senator Rick Santorum by just eight votes in Tuesday night's Iowa caucuses. After spending most of the night locked in a dead heat with Santorum and Rep. Ron Paul, Romney was declared the winner early Wednesday morning with 24.6 percent of the vote. Paul finished in third place, followed by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, and Michele Bachmann. Perry announced he would suspend his campaign to return to Texas.

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was declared the winner of the Iowa caucuses in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Pat Blank, senior news producer for Iowa Public Radio, reports on the latest from Des Moines.

With five days to go until the Iowa caucus, all six contenders for the Republican presidential nomination are making their rounds in small towns across Iowa. Newt Gingrich's poll numbers continue to fall in the Hawkeye state, opening up the possibility for another candidate to overtake the lead. Hopefuls who have stuck it out since the beginning — like Rick Santorum and Ron Paul — have experienced a recent uptick in popularity.

The 2012 Presidential race got a bit tighter yesterday after Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann officially announced her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. On the national stage, Bachmann is known for expertly exciting her base with statements that just as often inspire the ire of her opposition, even within her own party.