Bachmann Wins Iowa Straw Poll  —  AMES, Iowa — Michele Bachmann's high-intensity, Tea Party-inspired critique of President Obama propelled her to a first-place finish in the straw poll here Saturday, giving her presidential campaign a boost even as the field of rivals expanded to include Texas governor Rick Perry.

Michele Bachmann wins Iowa Straw Poll  —  Ames — Results just announced put Michele Bachmann as the winner of today's Iowa Straw Poll.  The Minnesota congresswoman earned 4,823 votes to secure her first place finish.  —  Congressman Ron Paul finished second with 4,671 votes …

Rick Perry's presidential run reorders 2012 landscape  —  CHARLESTON, S.C. - It sounds like a political fairy tale: Months of campaigning by nearly a dozen candidates have left Republicans restless and worried.  No one quite fits the bill.  Less than six months remain before the primaries.

CNN's Don Lemon: Marcus Bachmann ‘Elbowed Me Into A Golf Cart’  —  The strangest story of the Ames Straw Poll seems to have happened long before the poll itself.  CNN anchor Don Lemon reported on a “very disturbing” incident with Rep. Michele Bachmann, who he claimed had his security …

Bachmann Wins Iowa, For Now: The Ticker  —  Michele Bachmann won the greatest victory of her political career the same day much of the rationale for her candidacy evaporated.  The Minnesota congresswoman came in first in the Iowa Republican straw poll, effectively removing former Minnesota …

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann wins Iowa straw poll  —  Ames, Iowa (CNN) - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann won a narrow victory at the Ames Straw Poll, outpacing Texas Rep. Ron Paul and former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty in a vote that cements Bachmann's status as the Iowa frontrunner …

Bachmann wins Ames straw poll; Ron Paul takes second place  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) emerged victorious Saturday in an influential straw poll of Republican voters in Ames, Iowa, cementing her status as the early frontrunner for February's caucuses in the state.

Perry Makes It Official: He's Running for President  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry tossed his cowboy hat into the ring Saturday, shaking up the GOP race as he puts his undefeated political record on the line in his first presidential rodeo.  —  “It is time to get America working again and that's …

Why Ames Actually Matters  —  It is easy to make fun of the Ames Straw Poll.  It can't exactly be described as democratic when you — or the candidate hoping to secure your vote — have to pay your way into the polls.  —  But Ames has a pretty good predictive track record.