Ron Paul concedes third place finish, Gingrich concedes fourth in Iowa

By Kelly Carson *  By Hannah Hess * IowaPolitics.com * Tuesday, January 3

DES MOINES — Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul conceded a third place finish in the Iowa Republican Caucuses late Tuesday night, vowing to press on in his 2012 presidential campaign.

With 89 percent of precincts reporting, Paul had 21 percent of the Republican caucus vote, according to reporting by the Republican Party of Iowa.

"This momentum is going to continue and this movement is going to continue," Paul vowed to a chanting crowd in his Ankeny campaign headquarters. "We will go on, we will raise the money," he said. "I have no doubt about the volunteers."

Shortly after, former Iowa frontrunner Newt Gingrich also conceded to fourth place with 13 percent of the vote after 89 percent of precincts reported. "There will be a great debate in the Republican Party before we are ready to have a great debate with (President) Barack Obama," Gingrich said, while promising to continue his campaign. He praised and congratulated Santorum for running a "positive" campaign and warned voters not to nominate Paul because of his "dangerous" foreign policy views.

Results from the Republican Party of Iowa with 89 percent of precincts reporting are:
Tied for 1. Romney and Santorum, 25 percent
UPDATE: Romney wins by 8 votes
3. Paul, 21 percent
4. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 13 percent
5. Texas Gov. Rick Perry, 10 percent
6. Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, 5 percent
7. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, 1 percent
8. Herman Cain, less than 1 percent