CNN, AP notes:

2 hours ago [1:40 a.m. ET]

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Michele Bachmann told a small group of supporters Tuesday night that she’s staying in the presidential race as the only true conservative who can defeat the sitting president, despite a bleak showing in the Iowa caucuses.

The Minnesota congresswoman was running in last place among six candidates as returns came in from the nation’s first Republican presidential nominating contest.

2:33 a.m. ET

Romney won the Iowa caucuses by eight votes, Republican Party of Iowa Chairman Matt Strawn announced. Romney received 30,015 votes and Santorum received 30,007 votes, according to the Iowa GOP.

1 hour ago [2:40 a.m. ET]

Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) – Rick Perry’s “re-assessing” phase will apparently last through the remainder of the week.

After his disappointing fifth place finish in the Iowa caucuses, the Texas governor has scrapped his entire campaign schedule and will return to Austin to ponder whether to forge ahead with his bid.

3:04 a.m. ET

Iowa 2012 was the closest Republican presidential contest in history, beating the 1936 South Dakota primary, won by Alf Landon with a 257-vote margin, according to CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. It’s also the closest Iowa caucus result in history. The previous record was set in 1980, when the elder George Bush beat Ronald Reagan by about two percentage points.

ADD: McCain endorses Romney.

(CNN) – Sen. John McCain of Arizona will throw his support behind Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney on Wednesday, a senior Republican source close to the senator said.

The 2008 Republican presidential nominee will travel to New Hampshire to make the endorsement.