Christie Unoffically Finishes in Tenth Place in Iowa

The amusing thing, though, is what counts as mainstream these days. It’s still a three-way split, with Trump having a slight edge. “As a matter of fact, one of his campaign senior advisors told me that, when CBN cameras were inside that room – inside the room with pastors and Marco Rubio – it was a private meeting, CBN was the only one there, and some of that video got out and people got to see what Marco Rubio was all about regarding his faith”. One caucus votes for one nominee and caucus procedures differ by parties.

Trump’s campaign aides argue that predictions of his demise are greatly exaggerated.

Iowa’s Republican electorate is atypical of the country, and Cruz, who was propelled by evangelical voters here, may have trouble duplicating this brand of success elsewhere.

When you think about Barack Obama breaking out in Iowa in 2008, think also of the candidates whose bids broke down: Sen.

Amid historically large turnout in Iowa, the unexpected benefactor was Rubio, who came within striking distance of Trump.

Don’t count Cruz out, however. Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton will likely continue regardless of the results in Iowa and New Hampshire.

This turned out to be the former Arkansas governor’s last campaign hurrah. Trump’s second-place finish is not exactly a death blow to his candidacy, but it definitely tarnishes his image of being invincible. They’d all moved on and put their energy into betting their campaign resets in New Hampshire.

Cruz has been willing to take a bundle of money from New Yorkers.

For months, my campaign has survived the lies and dirty tricks from opponents who profess to detest the games of the political class, but in reality are masters at it. Even tonight, my opponents resorted to political tricks by tweeting, texting and telling precinct captains to announce that I had suspended my campaign – in some cases asking caucus goers to change their votes.

On Wednesday, the Bush campaign hammered Rubio with a full-page ad in the New Hampshire Union Leader, an influential newspaper in the state, that featured a letter “from the people who know Marco and Jeb best” – former and current speakers of the Florida House of Representatives (a position Rubio formerly held). He held valiantly to the surprise factor of the Iowa Caucuses.

Cruz has a real chance now to push hard on this, as well. Bush still hopes the fierce rivalry of Cruz and Rubio will weaken both, and Trump will somehow disqualify himself.

In the Iowa entrance polls, 45 percent of voters said “experience in politics” was the best preparation to be president, while 49 percent said a candidate should “be from outside the political establishment”.

However, Democrats said that in his three years as speaker, Mr Rubio was a “severe conservative, really far to the right”, but that it was possible to work with him as he was not hostile. Here, where 44 percent of adults have college degrees (versus 26 percent for all of Iowa) and household income is 40 percent higher than the state median, the relatively young residents live in vinyl-clad tract housing with artificial ponds. Not mind-blowing, but suggests that there are indeed a number of Republicans who are getting cold feet at the last minute and choosing a reliable candidate like Rubio over the exciting but unpredictable Trump. You would think he’s won it, he came out so strong in his victory-style post-caucus speech.

Mr Rubio claims he will prioritise military spending more than Mr Cruz, who voted for a budget on it, and is seen as more interventionist than his rival.

Another multiplayer, Joe Ricketts, the billionaire founder of TD Ameritrade, and his wife, Marlene, have cut checks to groups helping Bush, Christie, Rubio and Cruz – as well as several who are no longer in the race.

The average of recent New Hampshire polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.com shows Trump way ahead with 34 percent support, followed by Cruz with 12 percent, Bush and Kasich with 11 percent each, and Rubio with 10 percent.