Caucus preps in La Crescent
La Crescent residents prepare for tonight's caucusesLA CRESCENT, Minnesota (WXOW) - In the La Crescent portion of the Minnesota caucus, Rick Santorum is the clear winner.
Santorum won in one of the 4,137 precincts in Minnesota. While it's still early, it may be indicative of what could be another surprise win by Santorum, who won the Iowa caucus last month.
Santorum finished with 52 votes. The next closest was Ron Paul with 16. Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich finished with 5 votes each.
We will have more on tonight's contest on our politics page at www.wxow.com/politics and our 10pm Report.
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LA CRESCENT, Minnesota (WXOW) -- Normally overlooked, Minnesota Republicans in La Crescent and across the state are reveling in a chance to sway a party presidential nominating contest.
Tuesday night's caucuses were on the radar of all the major contenders.
Party faithful prepared to register their preferences in a straw ballot that won't bind any of the 40 national convention delegates. But it offered plenty of symbolic importance. Coming off back-to-back wins, front-runner Mitt Romney hoped contests in Minnesota, Missouri and Colorado would add more distance from a chase pack of Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum and Ron Paul.
The foursome gave Minnesota voters personal attention with a host of visits in the last week. Signs were pointing to a closer margin than Romney's 2008 runaway win in Minnesota over eventual GOP nominee John McCain.
We will have more from tonight's caucuses on our website, www.wxow.com and our 10pm Report.
