WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Texas Senator Ted Cruz handed a shock defeat to the controversial presidential contender Donald Trump in the Iowa Republican caucuses while in the Democratic camp both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders claimed victories as the race for the White House began Monday.
As the initial results of the Iowa Caucuses declared, the crowded Republican presidential race appeared to be narrowing down to a three-cornered contest with Marco Rubio coming a close third behind Cruz and Trump. With almost all the votes counted, Cruz bagged 28 per cent of the total votes and eight delegates. He has a lead of over 5,500 votes against Trump's 24 per cent and seven delegates. Rubio was third with 23 per cent and seven delegates. Neurosurgeon-turned-politician Ben Carson was a distant fourth with nine per cent votes and three delegates.
According to political pundits, Rubio's surge was the greatest surprise, as he fared much better than any polls had predicted.
On the Democratic side, with 99 per cent of the votes counted, it was too close to call between former Secretary of State Clinton and Sanders. Both of them split almost 50 per cent of the votes each. Clinton, who is aiming to become the first woman president of the US, has 22 delegates. Sanders, who was trailing behind Clinton by more than 20 points several weeks ago, has 21 delegates.
Sanders, who believes in Democratic socialism, declared his victory while Clinton's campaign director in Iowa, Matt Paul, said there was no uncertainty that the former first lady had beaten Sanders.
Iowa's Democratic Party said with one precinct still to be called, there results were the closest in Iowa Democratic caucus history.
With her husband and the former president Bill Clinton and daughter Chelsea Clinton standing by her side, Clinton reiterated her ambition to make US the clean energy super power of the world, and protect the rights of women and immigrants and stand up to the strong gun lobby.
What Iowa has begun tonight is a political revolution, Sanders told his cheering supporters. He said he would have about half of the Iowa delegates. He also promised to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour and equal pay for women. Public colleges and education should be tuition free, he said, adding that he would do so by imposing a tax on the Wall Street speculation.
In his first reaction after winning in Iowa, Cruz declared: 'Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives'. 'Iowa has sent notice that the Republican nominee and the next president of the United States will not be chosen by the media, will not be chosen by the Washington establishment,' the 45-year-old conservative added.
Trump said, 'We finished second. I am just honored. I want to congratulate Ted (Cruz).' Speaking at a campaign event after the results were published, the real estate tycoon said he never expected such a second place finish in Iowa when he started his campaign on June 16, 2015. Referring to the next primary destinations of New Hampshire and South Carolina, Trump exuded confidence over winning the party's nomination. We will go on to win the Republican nomination, Trump said and claimed that he will beat either of the potential Democratic nominee - Clinton or Sanders.
The first primary in Iowa attracted a record number of people for the caucuses.
From Iowa, the race to the White House now moves to New Hampshire, where the primaries are scheduled for February 9 and then to South Carolina. In both the states, Trump is leading by a huge margin, according to latest opinion polls.
Meanwhile, the third Democratic party presidential aspirant Martin O'Malley and the Republican party's Mike Huckabee announced their decision to suspend campaign. Both Rubio and Trump praised Huckabee with the aim of gaining his support.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX