IOWA-With the closest count in Iowa Caucus history, and the Iowa Caucus complete, the Republican pack has been shook up a bit. Rick Santorum moved from the obscurity of the back of the pack to move to the front at lightening speed. His swift move to the front of the pack has America wondering what happened. Between Romney and himself, they grabbed up approximately 50% of yesterday's votes. At a virtual tie, they finished out Romney 24.6% and Santorum 24.5%.

Newt Gingrich, who many thought would do half well in the election, suffered a downturn in the days leading up to the vote. His campaign was not able to withstand the negative ads that continued to pummel him and his less than shiny insider past. He could only muster a dismal 13.3% of the votes cast.

Ron Paul, who was thought would take the number two slot in the Iowa race, came in a fairly close third. He garnered 21.4% of the vote.

Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, and John Huntsman have been relegated to the back of the room and now are labeled the also-rans. Rick Perry has gone back to Texas to lick his wounds after dishing out what amounted to $480 for every vote he got at the polls.

Bachmann, who told supporters yesterday that she would continue in her race for the top seat in the country, but changed her tune today, when she bowed out of contention for the GOP nod.

So, who’s to beat? The race could well be over by next week as the Republican troupe moves to New Hampshire, where Romney is considered the favorite in that race. It also helps that John McCain has thrown his endorsement in for Romney. If Romney were to take New Hampshire, he would be the first Republican to go back to back with a win in Iowa and New Hampshire without being an incumbent. That feat would spell doom for all the other runners in the race. Even though Romney’s win in Iowa was virtually a tie with someone that had until recently, been at the back of the election bus.