Rick Santorum Wins Lakeville Caucus Straw Poll

Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum was the favorite among Lakeville's Senate District 36 Republican caucus goers on Feb. 7, winning the night by a substantial margin.

The former Pennsylvania senator unofficially received 247 votes, good for 37 percent of the 651 total votes cast. Ron Paul finished second with 178 votes, or 27 percent of the votes cast. Mitt Romney, who decisively won Lakeville's straw poll in 2008, was third with just 158, or 24 percent of the vote. Newt Gingrich finished a distant fourth, with just 10 percent, or 68 total votes.

All of Lakeville's 14 Senate District 36 precincts held their caucuses at .

Overall, participation numbers were down compared to the last presidential caucus year.

will have more analysis and an updated story on Wednesday, which will also include DFL caucus information.