Iowa caucus: Cruz tops Trump, while Clinton and Sanders are in virtual tie
- 8 years ago
Sen. Ted Cruz scored a hard-fought upset win over businessman Donald Trump in the Iowa Republican caucuses Monday night, while former secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders were locked in a virtual tie on the Democratic side with most of the votes counted.
Cruz made good on his bet that a methodical campaign organization would eclipse Trump’s media dominance in the first test of GOP voters.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Cruz was besting his rival by more than 5,100 votes, with fellow senator Marco Rubio of Florida a close third.
Clinton had been a clear front-runner in Iowa last summer.
But Sanders, hammering a message about economic inequities for the middle class, narrowed the margin in Iowa into a dead heat in the final days, and the results could presage a long, grueling fight to the nomination.
He maintains a polling advantage in New Hampshire, which will hold its primaries next week.
Cruz made good on his bet that a methodical campaign organization would eclipse Trump’s media dominance in the first test of GOP voters.
With 99 percent of the precincts reporting, Cruz was besting his rival by more than 5,100 votes, with fellow senator Marco Rubio of Florida a close third.
Clinton had been a clear front-runner in Iowa last summer.
But Sanders, hammering a message about economic inequities for the middle class, narrowed the margin in Iowa into a dead heat in the final days, and the results could presage a long, grueling fight to the nomination.
He maintains a polling advantage in New Hampshire, which will hold its primaries next week.