Ted Cruz wins Iowa as Jeb Bush, John Kasich, Carly Fiorina fade

Ted Cruz wins the Iowa caucus to make a big splash in the GOP Presidential race, besting Donald Trump and Florida Senator Marco Rubio.

The Texas Senator earned 27.7% of the vote, ahead of Trump at 24.3% and Rubio at 23.1. Ben Carson placed fourth at 9.3% with Rand Paul coming in next at 4.5%. It was Jeb Bush at 2.8%, the last to earn a delegate in the Iowa count.

photo/ donkeyhotey

Cruz earned 8 delegrats, Trump and Rubio with 7 each, Carson 3, Paul and Bush getting one each.

UPDATE: New reports list Fiorina and Kasich with one delegrae each.

No other candidate earned 2% or more and will not received a delegate from Iowa.

The Democratic side is too close to call with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in a near tie and will equally share the delegates.

CNN notes that “Cruz’s victory sets him up as a formidable force in delegate-rich, Southern states to come and offers movement conservatives hope that one of their own can become the Republican nominee for the first time since Ronald Reagan. Claiming victory, Cruz fired immediate shots at both Trump and the party elites he has so infuriated by waging an anti-establishment crusade that has nevertheless endeared him to the GOP’s rank and file.

“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,” Cruz said.

“Trump, hours after predicting a ‘tremendous’ victory, delivered a short but gracious speech that lacked his normal bombast, saying he loved Iowa and vowed to bounce back next week in New Hampshire.” CNN added.

“We will go on to get the Republican nomination and we will go on to easily beat Hillary or Bernie,” Trump told supporters. “We finished second, and I have to say I am just honored.”

Ted Cruz victory speech – click here

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