Clinton declared Democratic Iowa caucus victor

“I was disappointed that NPR’s news portrayed Hillary as the victor beating Sanders”, wrote one listener, noting, “Iowa Democrats have not called that race”. Bernie Sanders, who lost a hard-fought contest for Democratic caucus voters in Iowa to rival Hillary Clinton.

Jae C. Hong/AP Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump blows a kiss after speaking at his caucus night rally on Monday. Some sought to capitalize on the results of the leadoff Iowa caucuses, while others looked to put the best face on poor showings as they settled in for the February 9 New Hampshire primary – the second in the state-by-state nominating contests to decide who will be each party’s candidate for president in November.

Sanders was calling the results a “virtual tie”.

In another setback for the billionaire’s anti-establishment campaign, Marco Rubio, the Cuban-American senator favoured by establishment Republicans, won 23 per cent – an upset for pollsters who mostly forecast a Trump victory and had not predicted the strength of Mr Rubio’s support.

The Iowa Democratic Party said that it would not do any recount of the close results, and a spokesman for the Sanders campaign said it does not intend to challenge the results of the caucuses.

Clinton, who entered the race as the heavily favored front-runner, was hoping to banish the possibility of dual losses in Iowa and in New Hampshire.

Marco Rubio finished third, but is now part of a three-way race.

“Ted Cruz didn’t win Iowa, he stole it”, Mr Trump tweeted.

That may change quickly over the next week, as the impact of the Iowa caucuses ripples through New Hampshire.

“They don’t want to run against me, but I can’t wait to run against them”, Rubio said, vowing to grow a conservative movement.

Clinton said Tuesday that she wasn’t taking anything for granted, and seemed to downplay her chances of winning The Granite State. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has led in opinion polls by varying margins, and his populist message has attracted vast crowds in a state where he was already familiar.

“I think some people were disappointed that I didn’t go into the debate”, he was quoted as saying by Fox News.

“They told me I had to wait my turn”, Mr. Rubio said.

“We have never claimed to be able to predict such a thing”, said Crystal Patterson, Facebook’s government and policy outreach manager. Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday stormed into New Hampshire with packed campaign schedules.