Actually it was reported as a win when Romney actually LOST - no news report that I saw carried the headline “ROMNEY and SANTORUM TIE in IOWA”. Even your own post shows the “in the tank” thought process by saying (incorrectly) Iowa was a tie then stating “back-to-back wins”.
Romney reported it as a win, but most of the news reports I read said it was a virtual tie…even with an 8-vote “win” by Romney. I’m guessing if you read more than the headlines, you would remember that. Romney called it a back-to-back win, because at the time, it showed him winning Iowa by 8 votes.
That’s not “in the tank” thought process. It’s just reality.
For some back up, I went to RealClearPolitics, since their site has an good archive system, and I looked at the articles from January 4th. Here are a few:
realclearpolitics.com/2012/01/04/what_iowa_tells_us_about_state_of_gop_race_270504.html
Mitt Romney received eight more votes in the Iowa caucuses than Rick Santorum. The media is spinning this as if it matters who actually receives more votes. It really doesn’t. This is a battle for delegates – a long one. It’s not a winner take all election to serve as Iowa governor, senator, or whatever. Thus,** it’s fair to conclude that both Romney and Santorum won**; Bachmann, Gingrich, and Perry lost; and Paul remains a libertarian insurgent who cannot win the GOP nomination because he is too far out of step with the modern GOP.
realclearpolitics.com/2012/01/04/iowa_results_should_worry_gop_270500.html
There are two main points to come out of the Iowa caucuses.
Mitt Romney’s victory, even by just 8 votes, reinforces the likelihood that he’ll be the Republican nominee. True, that by coming out of nowhere to fight Romney to a** virtual tie**, Rick Santorum has breathed new life into his campaign, and has a chance to consolidated support if Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., drop out. But Romney was able to win Iowa without campaigning heavily here. He has a commanding lead in New Hampshire and the money, resources and organization to sustain a multi-state campaign.
realclearpolitics.com/2012/01/04/mitt_and_the_anti-romney_270493.html
Is it good for Mitt Romney? That was the question that preoccupied many pundits as the Iowa caucuses became a tight three-way race, concluding with
a photo finish between Romney and Rick Santorum. Make no mistake**: a Santorum-Romney tie** is effectively a Santorum win, even if eight or so hanging chads were discovered late in the game.
realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/01/04/caucus_cliffhanger_produces_drama_but_no_clarity_112633.html
As the last caucus votes were tallied across the state early Wednesday morning, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney were locked in
a virtual two-way tie for first place, separated by just eight votes. The final tally: Romney eked out the win, 30,015-30,007. Neither could crack the 25 percent level of support.
