Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., won the Iowa Straw Poll on Saturday, edging Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas.
Bachmann, who becomes the first woman to win the event, received 4,823 votes out of 16,892 cast. Paul got 4,671 votes. Pawlenty, who needed a strong showing to keep his campaign alive got 2,293 votes.
Presumed GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney lagged a distant sixth, with 567 votes. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who entered the presidential race Saturday was not on the ballot.
The once-every-four-year mock election at Iowa State University in Ames, a fundraiser for the state Republican party, is known more for winnowing the presidential field than for kingmaking.
Only two of the past five winners have gone on to win the GOP nomination.
Four years ago, a second-place finish by Mike Huckabee generated momentum for his insurgent campaign, while Sam Brownback dropped out of the race for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination not long after coming in a disappointing third.
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