UPDATE:
Iowa’s Democratic Party said early Tuesday that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had gained an insurmountable lead over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in the state’s caucuses, but stopped short of officially declaring her the winner — while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz scored a decisive win over Donald Trump in the Republican caucuses, with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio a close third.
Early Tuesday, the Iowa Democratic Party said Clinton had been awarded 699.57 state delegate equivalents while Sanders had received 695.49 state delegate equivalents with one precinct outstanding. That precinct was worth 2.28 state delegate equivalents — not enough for Sanders to make up the deficit.
The Clinton campaign quickly issued a statement declaring victory, saying, “Statistically, there is no outstanding information that could change the results and no way that Senator Sanders can overcome Secretary Clinton’s advantage.” However, a number of news outlets, including Fox News, did not immediately call the contest for the former secretary of state.
In at least three precincts, the Democratic outcome was so close that party officials ordered a coin toss to determine which candidate should receive an extra county convention delegate, a longstanding tiebreaking method. The Des Moines Register reported that Clinton won all three coin flips at precincts in Des Moines, Davenport, and Ames.
Despite his apparent defeat, the result reflected a strong showing for Sanders, who had trailed Clinton by nearly 30 points over the summer. Sanders said the results sent a “profound message” to the media and political establishment.
It’s all over for Madam Clinton, not able to break the back of the old codger Sanders, she has taken her last gasp. The remaining primary states see what happened here, Clinton begging Iowans to vote for her, like a one legged Mexican in Tijuana sitting on the sidewalk hawking pencils. Clinton has peaked, going down like her ignominious career, in flames.
Per Fox News’ Ed Henry
In a close race with Sanders, the Hillary campaign seemed a bit shell-shocked as a winner has yet to be declared in Iowa.
As Tom Harkin was warming up the crowd and getting ready for speeches from Bill and Chelsea Clinton, he seemed shocked to see Hillary take the stage.
Hillary marched up to the podium with Bill and Chelsea and was only one to speak before leaving the Iowa stage. Hillary never declares victory – only saying she was “breathing a big sigh of relief,” as if she won.
The Clintons skipped a rope line of screaming fans and scampered off into the night.
Clinton: 49.8 percent, 21 delegates
Sanders: 49.6 percent, 21 delegates
O’Malley: 0.6 percent
Neither Sanders nor Clinton have been declared the winner, but with Hillary’s poor showing, even if she noses Sanders out by one delegate, this is a defining defeat, her armour has been pierced. America knows all about the flim-flam game of Hillary Rodham Clinton. Hopefully, after New Hampshire and South Carolina she will rest in peace. One question remains when will the FBI, put the bracelets on her.