by Eric Dondero

Michele Bachmann came out on top with 4,823 votes. Ron Paul placed second. Rounded out by Tim Pawlenty in third, Rick Santorum in fourth and Herman Cain fifth. Rick Perry who just announced his candidacy yesterday, soundly beat Mitt Romney, as a write-in.

A hearty congratulations to Congresswoman Bachmann, and to all the placers. (My own preferred candidates - Bachmann, Cain and Perry - did rather well)

But looking past the gala and media frenzy on the winning candidates, a bigger winner was the Republican Party on the whole.

Politico reported late yesterday:

On a mild summer day, 16,892 Iowans cast ballots on the campus here at Iowa State University. That was an increase of nearly 3,000 votes from the 2007 straw poll and an indication of the enthusiasm Iowa Republicans have going into next year’s election.

With my limited math skills, that's roughly a 30% increase in GOP participation.

Extrapolate that nationwide. Such an increase in GOP voter strength could certainly lead to Republican victories in swing states like Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Colorado.

All the candidates should be congratulated for generating enthusiasm not only for their campaigns, but for the whole process within the Republican Party, as well.

Image h/t our friends at PJ Media.