Clinton camp claims narrow victory over Sanders

Luke Skywalker · Feb 2, 2016

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[h=4]Clinton camp claims narrow victory over Sanders[/h]Hillary Clinton's bid to keep Bernie Sanders from becoming the Barack Obama of 2016 got its first big test Monday.

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Democratic candidate Hilary Clinton said she will stand against the Republican effort to "rip us away from the progress we've made" during a speech after the Iowa caucuses. WHO

Hillary Clinton, her husband, former president Bill Clinton, and daughter Chelsea appear at a caucus night rally in Des Moines on Monday.(Photo: Patrick Semansky, AP)

DES MOINES —*Hillary Clinton's campaign claimed a*slim victory early Tuesday over populist firebrand Bernie Sanders in the Iowa caucuses, though his spokeswoman said the results were not settled.
With all but one precinct*reporting in Iowa, Clinton*clung to a sliver of a lead over Sanders early*Tuesday.
In a statement,*Iowa Democratic Party chairman Andy McGuire*said the results were the closest in Iowa democratic caucus history, with Clinton so far awarded 699.57 state delegate equivalents and Sanders awarded 695.49 state delegate equivalents.
“We still have outstanding results in one precinct (Des Moines —*42), which is worth 2.28 state delegate equivalents,” the statement said.
Clinton’s campaign declared victory early*Tuesday.
Clinton's Iowa campaign manager*Matt Paul said in a statement:*“Hillary Clinton has won the Iowa Caucus.*After thorough reporting —*and analysis —*of results, there is no uncertainty and Secretary Clinton has clearly won the most national and state delegates.”
However, Sanders' spokeswoman Rania Batrice noted that one precinct in Polk County remained outstanding, and*said there were questions about the results in several other counties.
"We definitely don't feel comfortable yet," she said early Tuesday.
Democratic Iowa caucus results are reported by*a complicated system of "delegate equivalents" rather than by voter head*count.
Sanders, who started the race far behind Clinton, declared Monday night that even if the former secretary of state edged him, he considered the near*tie*a great accomplishment.
“I think the people of Iowa have sent a very profound message to the political establishment, to the economic establishment and, by the way, to the media establishment,” Sanders told supporters.
In earlier*remarks, Clinton gave a nod to Sanders’ strong showing in the state: “I am excited about really getting into the debate with Sen.*Sanders about the best way forward,” she said.
USA TODAY
Five takeaways from the Iowa Democratic caucuses

Iowa’s caucuses proved that*the enthusiasm of young, lower-income and more liberal voters lining up behind the Democratic socialist*from Vermont was*a match for Clinton’s sophisticated ground operation and her support from loyal Democratic voters, moderates and particularly women. Many experts had predicted that Sanders' voters would not turn out in the numbers needed to overcome Clinton's advantage with older, more traditional caucusgoers.
If Clinton officially wins, it appears it will not be*as decisive as her campaign had hoped heading into New Hampshire's Feb. 9 primary, where Sanders is favored.
“We always knew it was going to be a tough campaign,” former senator Tom Harkin told a crowd of hundreds gathered at Drake University in Des Moines waiting for Clinton to arrive.
The third Democratic candidate in the race, former*Maryland governor Martin O'Malley,*suspended his campaign Monday after barely registering support in caucus returns.
USA TODAY
Martin O'Malley to end long-shot bid for Democratic nomination

As the returns were still being tallied, Clinton said it was rare that the Democratic Party had a chance to choose between two compelling candidates. "I am a progressive who gets things done," she said before an enthusiastic crowd.*She cited raising*wages, creating jobs, achieving*universal health care,*combating climate change, advancing*women’s rights, easing student debt and the need for more gun control.
Sanders surged in polls as he excited disaffected Democrats and some independent voters with his message about a “rigged economy” and a “corrupt” campaign finance system, tuition-free public college, universal health care and trade deals that he says have shipped jobs overseas and lowered wages.*“As I think about what happened tonight, I think the people of Iowa have sent a very profound message” to the establishment, he said.

Sen. Bernie Sanders and his wife, Jane, acknowledge the crowd as he arrives for his caucus night rally in Des Moines on Feb. 1, 2016.*(Photo: J. David Ake, AP)

Meantime the Iowa Democratic Party reached out to both campaigns*asking for contact information*to help*track*down missing*results in more than a dozen precincts.**"We are not taking results from the campaigns," the party said in a statement. "We are taking them from the chairs who are in these precincts."
A Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics*poll released Saturday showed the different demographic support for Clinton and Sanders.
Among those under the age of 35, Sanders drew 63%. Clinton fared better with more reliable caucusgoers,*including those over 65.
Sanders did better among those who have never caucused and independent voters who can’t participate in a Democratic primary unless they change their registration on caucus night.
USA TODAY
O'Malley looks for traction in Democratic race dominated by Clinton, Sanders

Iowa Democrats have had a better record in picking eventual presidential nominees than Republicans have. Barack Obama in 2008, John Kerry in 2004 and Al Gore in 2000 all won Iowa en route to the nomination. The past two Iowa winners for the GOP, Rick Santorum in 2012 and Mike Huckabee in 2008, ultimately fell short in their bid for the Republican nod.
USA TODAY
The Iowa caucuses: An accident of history

A strong finish in Iowa was critical to Sanders' path going forward. Though polls favor him to win New Hampshire,*as the race moves south, starting with South Carolina, Clinton is ahead by a wide margin.
Much as Iowa was instrumental to Obama’s path to the nomination, if Sanders is ultimately declared the winner it could prove a*significant blow to Clinton. His campaign says a win would generate enough momentum to weather Clinton’s advantage in the states that vote March 1, stretching the competition well into the spring.

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders visits his campaign headquarters to thank volunteers on Feb. 1, 2016, in Des Moines.*(Photo: Evan Vucci, AP)

The race hinged on turnout, which peaked in 2008 at 240,000. A recent Monmouth University poll, which screened for likely caucusgoers, predicted about 110,000 Democratic voters would show up to caucus. In addition, the Iowa secretary of State’s office did not reflect a similar surge in registrations like it did a month before the 2008 competition.
USA TODAY
Iowa caucuses: What's happening right now

USA TODAY
It’s about to get real: What you need to know about the Iowa caucuses

Unlike in 2008, Clinton was far more organized in Iowa, her supporters said ahead of the caucuses.
“It feels different to me,” said Mark Murphy, 55, a*retail sales associate who came from San Francisco to knock on doors for her and attended her final rally Sunday night.
“She’s a different person, too,” he said. “She was a great senator, but they still looked at her as Bill’s wife. Now it’s on her own.”
Contributing:*Tony Leys, The Des Moines Register
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Clinton camp claims narrow victory over Sanders

Luke Skywalker

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