Hillary Clinton has won the Iowa caucus in her race for the White House so narrowly over her democrat opponent Bernie Sanders that it was decided by the flip of a coin.
In at least six precincts across Iowa Monday US time, Democratic caucus votes ended in a tie, forcing a coin toss to decide which candidate would win a county delegate.
Mrs Clinton won all of these – securing an incredibly narrow lead.
“I stand here tonight breathing a big sigh of relief, thank you Iowa,” she said.
Credit: Justin Sullivan / Staff Getty Images.
Iowa is the first state to have an official say on who will be candidates to be the next American president. It is an important victory for Ms Clinton in the long campaign to become the Presidential candidate for the Democratic Party.
Ted Cruz won the Iowa caucus for the Republicans beating long-time Republican frontrunner Donald Trump.
Republicans in the rural midwestern state backed the ultra-conservative Mr Cruz for their party’s nomination, leaving Mr Trump in second place just ahead of Senator Marco Rubio, according to nearly complete results given by the party.
“To God be the glory!” exclaimed Mr Cruz, claiming victory with 27.7 per cent of the vote.
“Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives across Iowa and all across this great nation,” he said, pleased that his heavy investment in campaigning in the deeply conservative state had paid off.
Mr Cruz is a pro-gun advocate and was recently was reported belittling Australia’s gun laws and falsely stating they led to more women being raped in Australia.
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This is deja vu all over again (as Yogi Berra probably never said) as Clinton crashes and burns against an outside candidate who actually knows how to campaign. But this time it seems what has damaged her is her role in demonising the women who accused Bill of rape and consensual affairs as 'nuts and sluts' so nice to see a bit of karma. On paper she is probably the most qualified candidate since George H W Bush but she is an appalling campaigner and her sense of entitlement to the top job seems to grate.
This year's race is fascinating. The new kid in town for the Democrats is Bernie Sanders, a Jewish socialist (sort of), who (I think) has arisen as a foil to the super PAC (Political Action Committees) funded candidates. An unlikely underdog and very much a social liberal, particularity in the areas of health and prudential financial regulation.
The PAC funding floodgates were opened by the Citizens United court case of 2010, allowing corporations to fund political campaigns, which has been very damaging to the US' democracy as it has locked the doors to the corridors of power to those who aren't (or aren't backed by) billionaires. Bernie being an exception, he's being funded by over a million small donators and rising.
Go Bernie - do for democracy that which Justin Timberlake did for sexy. Bring it back.
Except that Sanders doesn't really subscribe to western democracy. He doesn't like free markets and wants to punish rich people for being successful. Have you heard his deodorant argument?? Man is an idiot.
No doubt the millennials will be seduced by his "smoke and mirrors" socialist utopia. Disappointed with all the candidates this run, none are very good. Oh well, anyone but Hil-liar-y!