For all the coverage Donald Trump has been getting, you’d expect him to be a shoo-in for the Republican nomination. Not so, as senator Ted Cruz has beaten him in Iowa’s presidential nomination contest in a stunning upset.
Cruz’s 28% of the vote was significantly higher than Trump’s 24%. Marco Rubio scored 23%, just missing out on second place.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton were neck-and-neck, with both receiving about half of the vote- Clinton obtained 49.9% while Sanders received 49.6%. Sanders called the result a “virtual tie.”
“Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation,” said Cruz in his half-an-hour long victory speech.
“So this is the moment they said would never happen,” he said. “For months they told us we had no chance … because we didn’t have the right endorsements or the right political connections, we had no chance. They told me that we have no chance because my hair wasn’t gray enough and my boots were too high.”
Trump was gracious in defeat; “I’m just honored,” he said, congratulating Cruz but stating that he still expected to win the Republican nomination.
“Rubio has staying power. He weathered $30 million in negative ads and late deciders broke his way due to his upbeat and optimistic close,” according to Scott Reed, Republican strategist.
The virtual tie between Sanders and Clinton makes their next contest, the New Hampshire primary held next Tuesday, all the more important. Sanders leads in the polls there and has the advantage of being a senator from neighboring Vermont.
“As I stand here tonight breathing a big sigh of relief — thank you, Iowa!” said Clinton.
“I am excited about really getting into the debate with Senator Sanders about the best way forward to fight for us and America.”
Sanders spoke soon after her, as the crowd chanted “feel the Bern”.
“Thank you — Iowa, thank you!” he said.
Though his Iowa campaign had humble beginnings, “no name recognition” and “no money,” he fought off the Goliath of the political world, “the most powerful political organization in the United States of America”, and tied.
He went on to note that his tie with Clinton spoke of broader implications for the various arms of the establishment and their policies: they had just run out of time.
“I think the people of Iowa have sent a very profound message to the political establishment, to the economic establishment, and by the way, to the media establishment. That is, given the enormous crises facing our country, it is just too late for establishment politics and establishment economics.”
Sources: ABC News, Reuters, NY Times, NY Daily
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