Ted Cruz beats Donald Trump in Republican Iowa caucuses

Marco Rubio, a USA senator from Florida, exceeded expectations with a third-place finish, garnering 23 per cent of the vote. Bernie Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist. Ted Cruz has made significant gains against Donald Trump, who has been in the lead since the race started. 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. “The next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media, will not be chosen by the lobbyists, but will be chosen by we the people, the American people”.

Trump, on the other hand, took a more subdued and humble tone than he has thus far.

“We finished second and I want to tell you something, I’m just honored”, said Trump.

Trump has dominated polls and the media for months, but his 24.3 percent vote tally, according to partial results, raised questions about whether showmanship can take him all the way to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. They said “don’t do it”.

“They told me I need to wait my turn, that I need to wait in line”.

By 11:16 p.m. CST, the race had still not been called for the Democrats. Fox News reports that the Iowa Democratic Party says Clinton is ahead of Sanders by 4 state delegate equivalents with 1 precinct outstanding, but because the value of the outstanding precinct is so small, Clinton has not formally been declared the victor. “Everybody in the party wants to win and Rubio, that might be his card to play going into New Hampshire”. If, however, Sanders gets good press, he may improve his chances despite the demographic challenges facing him in other states.

“Sanders can overcome Secretary Clinton’s advantage”. We’ll need to see if Sanders can do better in a state that is more moderate than Iowa before thinking he can win the nomination.

In his speech, Sanders channeled the populist message that has carried his campaign, noting that nine months ago, staffers and volunteers came to Iowa with a mission to taking on “the most powerful political organization in the country”. “And tonight, while the results are still unknown, it looks like we are in a virtual tie”.

The guide states: “Note: In a case where two or more preference groups are tied for the loss of a delegate, a coin shall be tossed to determine who loses the delegate”. Rand Paul, R-Ky., got one.

In his victory speech, Senator Cruz said: “Tonight is a victory for the grassroots”.

On the Democratic side on Monday night, Clinton held onto the narrowest of leads over Vermont Sen.

Mike Huckabee has already suspended his campaign. Rick Santorum, Carly Fiorina, and Jim Gilmore have been discredited.

Christie, Kasich and Bush all spent Iowa caucus night campaigning in New Hampshire.

In this scenario, I believe Sanders remains a viable long shot candidate, especially if his margin of victory in New Hampshire is reasonably impressive.