Herman Cain was favorite at Pottawattamie GOP dinner, but Sarah Palin took surprising 2nd

But even in absentia, Alaska's Sarah Palin claimed a surprising second place in the Pottawattamie County GOP’s dollar poll, with 38 percent of the votes to Cain’s 55 percent.

"Of the approximately 230 people in attendance, 153 people voted," said Jeff Jorgenson, the county party chairman. "Of course these results are not scientific, but I am going to say they accurately reflect the mood of the evening."