Clinton wins narrowly in Iowa as Trump bows to Cruz
The Iowa caucuses produce surprises in first round of voting in the US presidential campaign.
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Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton has been declared the narrow winner of the Iowa caucuses over Senator Bernie Sanders.
The just-released final result follows a strong challenge from Mr Sanders, an avowed socialist, who gained 49.6% of the delegate count against Mrs Clinton’s 49.9%.
With just over 1400 delegates to the state convention at stake, the Iowa Democratic Party says Mrs Clinton won by just four delegates.
The close margin didn’t stop Mrs Clinton from declaring an outright victory.
“I am so thrilled that I’m coming to New Hampshire after winning Iowa,” she told a crowd in New Hampshire, where the first primary in the campaign will be held next week. “I’ve won and lost there – it’s a lot better to win.”
Cruz wins Iowa's conservatives
Meanwhile, Texas Senator Ted Cruz has celebrated his win over Donald Trump in the Republican caucuses in Iowa.
“Tonight is a victory for the grass roots,” he told a raucous victory party in Des Moines.
“Tonight is a victory for millions of Americans who have shouldered the burden of seven years of Washington deals run amok.”
Mr Trump scored 24.3% of Republican caucusgoers to Mr Cruz’s 27.7% but the surprising outcome was the strong showing by third-placed Florida Senator Marco Rubio, with 23.1%.
Establishment Republicans, who dislike both Messrs Cruz and Trump, are now expected to switch their support to Mr Rubio as the most likely candidate to defeat Mrs Clinton on a presidential ballot.
Mr Cruz’s victory is attributed to support in Iowa from the most conservative caucusgoers. This is unlikely to help him in liberal-leaning New Hampshire, where Messrs Trump and Rubio are now the favourites.
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Nevil Gibson
Wed, 03 Feb 2016
Wed, 03 Feb 2016
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Clinton wins narrowly in Iowa as Trump bows to Cruz
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