Trump had repeatedly predicted he would win the Iowa caucuses, but he only came in second place with 24.3 percent of the vote, behind the victor in the Republican race, Senator Ted Cruz with 27.7 percent. Rubio is viewed by many Republicans as a more mainstream alternative to Trump and Cruz. Marco Rubio, who came in third.
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Cruz says his win signifies the strength of conservatives against Washington insiders, while Trump remained confident.
Cruz’s victory and Rubio’s strong showing appear to reinforce the importance of carefully organised grassroots campaigns which can identify potential supporters and encourage them to get out and vote, even in the face of a media juggernaut like Trump’s.
Almost half of Republicans were first-time caucus-goers, and they tended to support Trump.
Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday night told her supporters after the Iowa caucuses that she’s “breathing a big sigh of relief”, but she shouldn’t rest too easily.
Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, stopped by a campaign office in Des Moines, where Clinton said: “I’m so excited for tonight”. Retired surgeon Ben Carson was fourth with 9 percent.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, accompanied by former President Bill Clinton and their daughter Chelsea Clinton, arrives at her caucus night rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, Monday, Feb. 1, 2016.
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.
Still, the upstart Vermont senator, whose entry to the Democratic presidential race barely registered, has both new money and new momentum. “Tonight, while the results are still not known, it looks like we are in a virtual tie”, Bernie Sanders proclaimed.
A week ago Trump led Rubio by more than 20 points in the polls. Young voters overwhelmingly backed Sanders.
The Republican and Democratic party nominees will be chosen by the summer, and United States voters will pick current president Barack Obama’s successor in November.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said he was suspending his campaign for the Republican party nomination.
The state Democratic party indicated in a separate statement that it was not ready to make a call.
Sanders told volunteers and supporters: “We will struggle tonight if the voter turnout is low”.
The caucuses marked the end of at least two candidates’ White House hopes.
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Clinton won strong support among those who wanted a candidate who could beat the Republican nominee and who had experience, while Sanders was supported by large margins among those wanting a candidate who is honest or cares about people like them.
