Donald Trump: Ted Cruz “stole” Iowa

In this January 7, 2016, photo, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump flashes thumbs up after an address to a group of supporters at a campaign stop at the Flynn Center of the Performing Arts in Burlington, Vermont.

“That could’ve been with the debate”, Trump acknowledged to reporters in Milford, New Hampshire, where he was introduced and endorsed by former Massachusetts Sen.

Donald Trump has accused Sen.

By Wednesday night, he was insisting that Cruz “illegally stole” Iowa and calling for a do-over, though there was no evidence to support his case.

Christie, the New Jersey governor, former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Ohio Governor John Kasich all hope for a strong showing in New Hampshire to boost their flagging campaigns to become the Republican nominee in the November 8 election to replace Democratic President Barack Obama.

The Florida senator won third place at the Iowa caucuses.

Mr Cruz said the businessman does not like losing and threw a “Trumpertantrum” after coming second in Iowa.

Cruz had apologised to Carson on Tuesday because of an email from his campaign before the caucuses, which are the crucial first vote in the U.S. presidential nominating process.

Iowa entrance polls showed many voters made up their minds in the final days before the caucuses.

Mr. Trump, at his own event, described it as Mr. Cruz telling people, “Ben Carson quit, and let me have your vote”.

“There is now blood in the water for Donald Trump”, Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said.

That break from Trump as we know him is officially over.

Carson had tweeted his feelings about the Iowa vote on Tuesday.

Mr Trump tweeted: “The Voter Violation certificate gave poor marks to the unsuspecting voter (grade of F) and told them to clear it up by voting for Cruz. Bad!” Trump tweeted Wednesday morning, before it disappeared from social media within minutes of posting.

Mr Pate said Mr Cruz’s mailers “misrepresent Iowa election law” and that they were “not in keeping in the spirit of the Iowa Caucuses”, but he stopped short of any official action. “They do it professionally, I’ve never done this before”, Trump later told the “Today” show.

Trump latched onto it as a reason to invalidate Cruz’s victory over him in Iowa.