(Image source: The New York Times)

BY ZACH TOOMBS AND CHRISTINA HARTMAN

It came down to eight votes. Mitt Romney won Iowa, but it was the state’s closest caucus vote in history. Those eight votes were all that separated Rick Santorum from pulling off a major upset victory.

And, although the former Pennsylvania senator settled for a close second, his message to supporters was anything but gloomy. Here’s a look, from Fox News.

SANTORUM: “We have someone who can go out to western Pennsylvania and Ohio and Michigan and Indiana and Wisconsin and Iowa and Missouri and appeal to voters that have been left behind by a Democratic party that wants to make them more dependent instead of valuing their work...”

As always, the former Massachusetts governor kept his focus on President Barack Obama in his message to supporters.

ROMNEY: "I am working and we're all working together because of our passion for this country and our concern that it's being led by a president who may be a nice guy but just is over his head."

With newfound momentum under his belt, Santorum leaves Iowa with a major confidence boost. But, according to CNN’s Ari Fleischer, the underdog faces a serious disadvantage in fundraising and organization in upcoming primary states.

“But here’s what’s next for Rick Santorum, and this is going to break his back. All of a sudden now, with no time and no staff, he has to raise a ton of money, withstand a ton of attacks, hire staff. And meanwhile, every week there’s another race almost. It’s going to be very hard for Rick Santorum to be able to really pick this up and take advantage of it. The burden on the candidate now is massive, and he doesn’t have an infrastructure.”


Going into caucus night -- the general consensus among cable news pundits was Romney would win -- and either Santorum or Ron Paul would take second and third. So the close finish? Good for Romney, but better for Santorum.

Democratic political strategist Joe Trippi took to Twitter to suggest -- “It was still Santorum’s night.”

Then again, The New York Times notes, “... even though he did not secure the authoritative victory that he had fought for in the last week, he handily dispatched two rivals who were once seen as his biggest threats, Mr. Perry and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich.”      

Perry, by the way, placed 5th in Iowa, and told supporters Tuesday night he was headed back to Texas to reassess the campaign. Next stop for the rest of the field? New Hampshire. And that -- panelists on MSNBC say -- is Romney’s to lose.

“It seems to me that because Santorum doesn't have much in the way of money, he doesn't have much in the way of organization, he's -- he's not necessarily a huge threat unless we really see a real coalescing around him."

In a speech delivered BEFORE the final vote tally, Romney congratulated Santorum and Paul on what he called a “good night” for them, too. The New Hampshire primary takes place January 10th.