Polls didn’t reflect Cruz win or Clinton squeaker

The race was too close to call as most people went to bed late on Monday night/early on Tuesday morning.

THE race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders was so close, it was literally a toss-up in a few Democratic caucus precincts – where a coin flip determined the delegates.

Ted Cruz (R-TX) explained Monday night how his “New York values” attack line helped him triumph over rival Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses. “Coming in first is better than coming in third”. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has not conceded and the state Democratic Party has not responded to AP’s questions about whether they intend to do a recount of the caucus reports of candidate support.

Asked before a rally in Milford, New Hampshire on Tuesday evening if he planned to change his campaign strategy, Trump told a news conference he felt confident in his methods, but he was adding more town hall-style events.

The US presidential candidates have started campaigning in New Hampshire after voters in Iowa served up some major surprises.

Now it’s on to New Hampshire, then Nevada and SC, with Super Tuesday now less than a month off, and the stakes getting higher each step of the way.

His caucus night party in West Des Moines likewise had empty space, and a crowd that booed CNN’s declaration of Cruz’s victory, but was otherwise subdued.

On the Republican side, businessman Donald Trump is looking to rebound after a second-place finish in Iowa that marked a humbling blow to the boastful real estate mogul.

Trump sounded humble in defeat, saying he was “honoured” by the support of Iowans.

What made last night’s Democratic caucuses so interesting, aside from the fact that Clinton and Sanders virtually tied, was the battle between younger and older voters.

Sanders celebrated his stronger-than-expected showing in Iowa, landing at dawn in Bow and addressing a hardy group of supporters who met him.

She said her campaign will be “bringing all that energy, excitement, and determination to New Hampshire where we’re going to work hard up until the primary next week”.

He noted that “the people of Iowa have sent a very profound message to the political establishment, the economic establishment, and oh by the way, to the media establishment”.

Based on these results, Ms Clinton is set to receive 23 of Iowa’s delegates and Sanders will earn 21 delegates.

Cruz’s victory in the Iowa means he’ll collect eight delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Historically, a victory has hardly assured the nomination, but a win or an unexpectedly strong showing can give a candidate momentum, while a poor showing can end a candidacy. Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley ended his longshot bid for the Democratic nomination, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee dropped out of the Republican race.