Clinton declared victor in Iowa caucus

“I don’t know anyone who would be comfortable with someone who behaves this way having his finger on the button”, Cruz said during a press conference in New Hampshire (see video below). “They said, ‘No, no, his is, but yours isn’t.’ And I said, ‘Oh, that’s wonderful.’ I didn’t understand that”.

After leading in almost all of the polls heading into the Iowa caucus, the GOP frontrunner took in 24.3% of the vote to Mr Cruz’ 27.7%. Cruz spokesman Rick Tyler earlier Wednesday denied the campaign had spread the message Carson was dropping out-potentially freeing his supporters to support Cruz in Iowa instead-and had merely told supporters about Carson’s travel plans. “That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated”.

“It could have been the debate”, acknowledged an less bombastic, more reflective Trump (for him, anyway) at this afternoon’s news conference in New Hampshire, where he’s campaigning in advance of that state’s February 9 primary.

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

Trump’s renewed fervor comes after the bombastic candidate appeared more somber and conciliatory during his final speech in Iowa.

Democrats, Trump contends, would be quick to sue to challenge Cruz’s place on the ballot.

Carson said he bases his decision on whether or not to stay in the presidential race based on the the size and strength of his campaign, crowds, donations, and social media.

Cruz added, “I want the video, and I am going to pay to air Jimmy Carter attacking me”.

The news about Carson came from CNN which reported he was taking a break after the Iowa caucus to fly to Florida before moving onto New Hampshire.

The volley comes as Mr Trump looks to rebound in New Hampshire following Monday’s defeat in the first presidential nominating contest.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won by a razor-thin margin against US Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, the closest in Iowa Democratic caucus history.

Paul finished fifth in Monday’s Iowa caucuses, which were dominated by conservative Cruz’s defeat of Trump, who has courted controversy by urging a ban on Muslims entering the United States and branding Mexican immigrants as criminals. “I guess what did happen is one poll came out that said we were four or five points ahead and maybe built up a false expectation for some people”.