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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign has declared that the former Secretary of State has won a narrow victory over her opponent, the self-declared Socialist Bernie Sanders.
While the official results for the last few tardy precincts trickled in, USA Today reports indicate that the Clinton campaign clung onto "the sliver of a lead" she had over Sanders early Tuesday morning, as officials in Iowa’s Democratic Party report she has edged out Sanders, though his campaign says the results were not officially settled yet.
"Hillary Clinton has won the Iowa Caucus," Matt Paul, the Clinton campaign's Iowa state director said in a statement released early Tuesday morning.
Statement on @HillaryClinton's victory in the Iowa caucus pic.twitter.com/bgP02kYs4Y
— Gwen Rocco (@gwenrocco) February 2, 2016
The caucuses was overwhelmed by new supporters with the 300 expected voters swelling to nearly 600, the majority of whom came out to support Bernie Sanders.
The Democratic Party of Iowa said the results were the closest in Democratic caucus history with Clinton receiving so far 49.9 percent and Sanders 49.6.
Clinton Press Secretary Brian Fallon told reporters that "we believe strongly that we won," on his way to New Hampshire, the second state to hold nomination primaries.
"Its not clear post-Iowa what Senator Sanders' path to victory is," Fallon added
But with such a close call, Sanders' spokeswoman Rania Batrice emphasized that one precinct in Polk County was yet to be counted, adding that the results in several other counties were questionable. "We definitely don't feel comfortable yet," she said on Tuesday.
The Iowa Democratic Party’s chair, Andy McGuire, said “The results tonight are the closest in Iowa Democratic caucus history. Hillary Clinton has been awarded 699.57 state delegate equivalents, Bernie Sanders has been awarded 695.49 state delegate equivalents, Martin O’Malley has been awarded 7.68 state delegate equivalents and uncommitted has been awarded .46 state delegate equivalents. We still have outstanding results in one precinct (Des Moines—42), which is worth 2.28 state delegate equivalents. We will report that final precinct when we have confirmed those results with the chair.”
IN DEPTH: US Elections
Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley decided to suspend his campaign after receiving only 1 percent of the vote. Candidates must have 15 percent to be viable.
A campaign sign for Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders sits in the snow and fog aoutside a caucus site near Osage, Iowa, February 1, 2016. | Photo: Reuters
In some cases’ Clinton’s lead over Sanders was reportedly decided by a coin toss, with at least three precincts awarding delegates to Clinton through this method after the results were said to be tied, according to MSNBC News.
@HillaryClinton won a delegate in the #IowaCaucus by a coin toss. They literally let money decide the election
— Goose Duarte (@ImprovGoose) February 2, 2016
NBC News estimated that 21 of the 50 available delegates would be awarded to Clinton and 20 to Sanders as of 2:37 a.m. EST.
The results have still been described as a sweeping win for Vermont Senator Sanders who left the caucus with almost an equal number of delegates as frontrunner Clinton.
Tapping into the deep-seated discontent with traditional politics, Sanders, 74, has received a groundswell of support, jumping from more than 50 percent.
"It is too late for establishment politics and establishment economics," Sanders said, adding that the 2016 elections were heralding a “political revolution” in the country.
As for the Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz won the Iowa Republican caucus by 28 percent, ahead of billionaire Donald Trump who had 24 percent of the vote and Senator Marco Rubio who secured 23 percent.
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