Ted lead with 28 per cent, Trump 24 per cent and Rubio 23 percent of the votes cast.
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Clinton, the former secretary of state, USA senator and first lady, had been expected to cruise to victory in Iowa and beyond.
The Iowa contest was the first of the state-by-state battles to pick nominees for the November 8 election to succeed President Barack Obama.
The Iowa Democratic Party said in a statement the caucus was the closest in history, with some precincts reportedly having to resort to a rarely used rule to flip a coin to decide the victor.
Both former Democratic Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Republican Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee – who won the 2008 Iowa Republican caucus – suspended their campaigns Monday night. Meanwhile, in her speech, Hillary Clinton tried to position herself as the victor: “I’m breathing a big sigh of relief”, she said.
And he declared he would be the party’s nominee, pledging to beat Hillary or Sanders, “or whoever they pick”.
The results could have ramifications in upcoming races.
Though Sanders fared well in Iowa and is nicely posited in New Hampshire, his hurdle is proving that he can appeal to more ethnically diverse electorates in later contests in places such as SC.
“There is now blood in the water for Donald Trump”, said Republican strategist Ron Bonjean. Clinton hoped for a strong finish against Sanders to vanquish his insurgent candidacy.
Halkett said while a win in Iowa of the Democratic or Republican caucuses doesn’t always point to an eventual win of the nomination, it provides important momentum and drives donations for further campaigning.
Remember: Democratic vote totals are “state delegate equivalents” an estimated number of delegates that will be sent to county and state conventions to formally select the delegates who will represent Iowa and the winning candidates at the national convention.
“I think he can bring the rights to change the government back to the people”. Large crowds filled churches, gymnasiums, and other public buildings across the largely rural state.
The outcome tonight proves Sanders poses a major challenge to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, even as many contended he’d never be able to compete with her.
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“Although it’s a tight race, a lot of the people who are committed to caucusing for me will be there and standing up for me and I will do the same for them in the campaign and in the presidency”.
