Posted on 02/02/2016 4:11:20 PM PST by springwater13
Trump clearly had the votes to win Iowa but he didn't put the boots on the ground to get out the vote. Cruz had an epic ground game with 10,000 volunteers, data analytics, SUPER PACS, etc. It's amazing that Trump still came within a few percentage points on a shoestring operation. That's to Trump's credit but he still lost.
The Cruz campaign's pollster said Trump's numbers in the public polls were buoyed by a group of voters who do not typically vote in the caucuses but were strongly attached to Trump. These unlikely regular caucus voters needed a push. Trump did not have the infrastructure.
The depressing thing is if Trump didn't want to self-fund tens of millions of dollars for infrastructure comparable to Cruz, all he really had to do was ask. He could have easily asked for small dollar donations at his website. Asking his supporters to invest in his campaign and still kept his credibility against Super-PACS and special interests/lobbyists. A $20 donation isn't going to influence him.
No competitive candidate is losing the nomination because of Iowa. It’s picked only 2 of 6 GOP nominees in the last six races where no incumbent was running.
And their 3 electoral votes always go for the commie Dems anyway. The idea was to get some delegates and go forward.
Nope. The evangelicals turned out to vote for the Messiah du' Jour.
Trump likely made some errors here and there but so did Cruz.
And how in the heck does Rubio get a strong 3rd?
If you think about, 70% of the voters voted against Cruz (as well as Trump, obviously).
Cruz did not have huge rallies, however, he traveled to a lot of small towns and met with people at small venues. Not very exciting, but a sound strategy for IA.
It isn’t. Iowa went to Huckabee in 2008 and Santorum in 2012. It means nothing.
I agree with you. Trump does one of two things at this point. He realizes this is a live fire exercise and fights to win, or he shrugs it off and leaves the arena for those who are serious.
I hope the latter. He is the only one changing the dynamics or the rotted and suffocating system. Winning the election will be easier than shifting the accumulated dung of the uniparty and the spooks.
He is also a political novice and not yet fully knowledgeable about how insiders play the system that they have created.
But if he is smart enough to make $8 Billion dollars he is smart enough to figure out their Good-Old-Boy system in record time.
I expect him to come out swinging for the fence after New Hampshire.
You have to understand that with “spacejunkie” if wishes were fishes he'd have a fish fry, if biscuits were horse turds, he'd eat til he dies.
And maybe political inexperience.
He now knows he's got to campaign somewhat traditionally whether he likes it or not. It will be interesting - from a political science standpoint - to see how if he learns from Iowa, or not.
Doorbelling, Donald??
Trump overplayed his hand a bit. He’ll learn from it.
he’s not gloating.
i’m from NYC.
400 bucks, no 500 bucks if trump gets the nod and spends half a billion of his own money.
NOT A CHANCE
nor should he, but he blustered about it already.
“I just watched Trump in his presser and he looks totally defeated. This Iowa loss was a gut punch.”
Good. If he was overconfident, that won’t happen again. Bring the ‘A’ game or stay home.
“Cruz had most votes ever.”
Yes, I have heard that repeatedly. Hannity was jubilant. Cruz garnered a little over 50,000 votes. Can you explain how that translates into some great victory? A few thousand more than the next two.
He’s learning for sure. I liked the humility and down to earth approach of his speech last night. He should do that tone a bit instead in smaller rooms. Connect with people.
Holy crap. The spin on this is insane. 5000 votes and it’s ‘all over for Trump’!
Wonder if Cruz supporters will show up here N.H. night. They certainly don’t seem to enjoy winning. Perhaps losing...
Cruz had a huge Army.
And only won by 6000 votes.
Only 3.75 votes per Caucus location
(6000 / 1600 locations)
Not that impressive.
So....if Trump wins NH, what will you attribute that to?
Spending almost nothing compared to Bush, Cruz & Rubio?
he needs to attack rubio but he will not spend half a billion in the generals.
he should say so now.
bloomberg would.
Trump will not.
Almost all winners of the nomination lose in Iowa.
It means little.
so kid, Jebbie should win ???
However, a win is a win, and just the fact that Cruz won the state gives him headlines,visibility and perceived strength. The fact that the others lost shows vulnerability.
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