The race for the Republican presidential nomination entered a new phase on Saturday as Gov. Rick Perry of Texas declared his candidacy in South Carolina and Michele Bachmann won a closely watched poll of voters in Iowa.
With Republican enthusiasm swelling over the prospect of defeating President Obama next year, thousands of party activists and voters converged here for the Iowa straw poll. The outcome provided a snapshot of the campaign that could help reorder the top tier of contenders as candidates move into a critical five-month stretch before the nominating contest begins.
“We did this together,” Mrs. Bachmann said, standing outside her campaign bus after she was declared the winner. “This is the very first step toward taking the White House in 2012.”
Ron Paul of Texas, whose libertarian views put him at odds with many Republicans, finished just a few votes behind Mrs. Bachmann. Tim Pawlenty, a former governor of Minnesota who had sternly warned voters against supporting Mrs. Bachmann’s candidacy, finished a distant third.
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Complete article at NY Times : http://nyti.ms/pPwRUs
