Santorum Surge in Precinct Numbers Exceeds Poll Projections  —  UPDATE 8:55 p.m. CT: The latest with 31% of precincts:  —  Mitt Romney ...... 7,844 (23%)  —  Rick Santorum .... 7,726 (23%)  —  Ron Paul ............. 7,655 (23%)  —  Newt Gingrich ..... 4,440 (13%)  —  Rick Perry ........... 3,433 (10%)

The trouble with my uncle, Rick Santorum  —  If you want another big-government politician who supports the status quo to run our country, you should vote for my uncle, Rick Santorum.  America is based on a strong belief in individual liberty.  My uncle's interventionist policies …

Romney Wins Iowa Caucus by 8 Votes  —  “Onto New Hampshire, let's get that job done!”  Mitt Romney told supporters before being declared the winner.  More Photos »  —  DES MOINES — Mitt Romney's quest to swiftly lock down the Republican presidential nomination with a commanding finish …

“We have nearly reached the Rubicon when the ‘not Romney’ crowd is pining for Jon Huntsman”  —  So says Erick Erickson.  Is he right? … Can he atone for that flipping of the bird before next Tuesday?  Ninety-five percent of you will say “NO” in the comments, but let's …

Campaign manager says Bachmann may drop out  —  WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michele Bachmann's campaign manager says it's hard to tell whether she will continue her campaign after a bleak showing in the Iowa caucuses.  —  Asked if he could say with certainty whether she would go forward …

Romney wins Iowa by 8 votes - Fallout: Perry done; Santorum strong; Gingrich angry - Cordray recess appointment?  - Oil surges on Iran fear  —  By Ben White (bwhite@politico.com; Twitter: @morningmoneyben)  —  ROMNEY WINS IOWA BY 8 VOTES - With 100 percent of Iowa precincts reporting …

Everything You Heard Last Night Was Bull, Perry Might Want to Stay In, & a Newtlear Attack  —  As you wake up this morning, Rick Santorum only lost to Mitt Romney by 8 votes.  Santorum spent about a dollar per vote and Romney spent hundreds of dollars for his votes.

McCain to endorse Romney tomorrow  —  John McCain will endorse his '08 rival Mitt Romney tomorrow, a top Republican source confirmed to POLITICO.  —  The Arizona senator fought a bitter nomination battle with Romney four years ago, though Romney has worked to mend the relationship since then.

Mitt Romney wins Iowa caucus by 8 votes  —  Mitt Romney speaks to supporters at the Hotel Fort Des Moines Tuesday evening.  (Rodney White/The Des Moines Register)  —  Rivals Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum waged a down-to-the-wire battle for the Iowa Republican caucuses Tuesday …

The Messenger  —  They too needed emancipation.  —Ulysses S. Grant  —  As I often do on this blog, I'd like journey back to the Crack era—the late 80's and early 90's —when the general sense was that the black youth of America had lost their minds.  All across our cities, young black men were bleeding in the streets.

Why I'd Bet on Santorum (and Against My Model)  —  The official version of FiveThirtyEight's polling-based forecasts project Rick Santorum to receive about 19 percent of the vote in the Iowa caucuses on Tuesday night.  It translates this to an 18 percent chance of Mr. Santorum's overcoming …