Posted on 02/02/2016 6:27:31 AM PST by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
Several presidential candidates began arriving Tuesday from Iowa, joining others in New Hampshire in a seven-day sprint to the nation's first primary.
Facing a different set of voters and an expanded playing field on the GOP side, 2016 hopefuls are now wooing a more moderate, less religious electorate.
For Democrats, with former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley out of the race, the race between Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has intensified after a virtual dead heat finish in Iowa.
The Clinton campaign declared victory with all but Iowa one precinct counted. The state's Democratic Party did not declare final results, but it appeared that Clinton had a lock regardless of the outcome in the remaining Des Moines precinct.
"God loves the great state of Iowa," Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) declared after the votes were tallied in Monday night's caucus, and he had defeated New York businessman Donald Trump. "Tonight is a victory for courageous conservatives, across Iowa and all across this great nation."
But Cruz -- who came here Tuesday morning along with several of his rivals -- faces a series of new challenges in trying to replicate that victory in New Hampshire's primary next week, with a less-robust organization in a state where has spent less time and cannot count on such a large evangelical electorate.
History provides a clear warning. In 2008 and 2012, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania won the Iowa Republican caucuses with heavy support from evangelicals. Both then arrived here lacking a strong organization, lost this state and failed to become the GOP nominees.
With the Republican Party's focus on Iowa now complete, the spotlight on ethanol and evangelicals is out.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
PING!
The GOPe want Trump to win here. Cruz and Trump continue to kill each other.
Rubio move into second place. “Rubio is the guy that can beat Hillary in a general. The other 2 guys are too extreme. Rubio can win — just like Romney... and McCain...”
As Mark Levin was saying yesterday, why is the primary process front-loaded with Iowa and New Hampshire? Two small states, arguably neither of which is very republican friendly, but which will weed out candidates. Why not start with bigger states? More Republican friendly states?
Now it starts for real.
Yes, on to New Hampshoire!
New Hampshire!
Who will cross-over ‘independents’ vote for on the GOP ticket in soviet Red Hampshire’s ‘open primary’ next week?
I have been saying this for years. The Republican and Democrat parties tried to move other states ahead of Iowa prior to 2012, but Iowa threatened to push their caucus even earlier if the parties did that. SMH.
I don’t think the GOPe wants Trump to win anything.
Wonder how many R’s did their own Operation Chaos last night and went to D caucus just to throw a screw into Hillary’s plans? Iowa’s republican primary doesn’t mean much, but denying Hillary - that’s hugh!
I wonder too. As I said last night, something just doesn’t sit right with the votes from the caucus.
All primaries and caucus should be on the same day period. A run off 30 days later between the top two if nobody gets over 50%. We vote the general the same day, primaries should be no different. I am tired of left leaning states choosing our candidates.
We're still with you! Still here fighting, angry and raring to go! Go! TRiUMPh
Love it!!!
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