Jim Gilmore, former governor of Virginia, got 12 votes. 12! There was a record 185,000 Republican caucus voters out last night and Gilmore attracted just 12. Jeb Bush was repudiated last night. Gilmore wasn't even worthy of repudiation. I'd be interested in knowing if there was a write-in candidate who got more than 12 votes. On the other hand, the number 185,000 is pretty amazing. I think Brummie posted that 125,000 Republican caucus goers was the norm, so this was an amazing night. And that, paired with an impending snowstorm, means that the Republican base is pretty fired up. Trump's strategy was to try to get more non-caucusers out to vote, and it worked. I will be very interested to see how the voting turnout looks through the rest of the primaries. Iowa was always Cruz's dream first event, but if increased turnout becomes the norm for 2016, then Trump may not be the loser than last night might suggest. Gov Branstad took it on the chin last night. He was actively campaigning against Cruz, a bit of a break in tradition for him, due to Cruz's unwillingness to support ethanol subsidies. Anything that pegs Branstad back is good for America. This is, I think, a better Iowa win for Cruz than similar winning nights were for Huckabee or Santorum. Cruz is better positioned to play to Republican angst than either Huck or Rick.
0.2 points I think the problem is more that Sanders' message resonates with many Democratic primary voters than a particular issue with her. In this field, she's a decent campaigner, especially as others have noted when the chips are down.
I think I have come to the realization that if I could have one of those any-6-people-for-dinner kind of evenings, I would want Ann Coulter there, just for the hilarity. She's in rare form: Trump is the leading GOP vote-getter tonight, among natural-born-American candidates.— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 2, 2016 Based upon exit polls, Rubio seems to have gotten the lion's share of the Prevaricating Little Weasel vote.— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 2, 2016 Fox is slyly denigrating Cruz by ignoring him. IT APPEARS HE'S ABOUT TO WIN. But it's all hands on deck for the sweaty little Mario.— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) February 2, 2016
I don't think Nevada matters at all in this race. Hell, O'Malley could have won and it would not have mattered. South Carolina is what is important, specifically the Black vote in South Carolina.
Apparently Ted Cruz tweeted, at 7:01pm local time, that Ben Carson was dropping out of the race immediately after the Iowa caucuses. And several Carson caucusites said that Cruz precinct captains said the same thing. http://fortune.com/2016/02/01/ben-c...-caucuses/?xid=soc_socialflow_twitter_FORTUNE
The Scott endorsement should help Rubio. Jeb Bush is still running ads, but he's basically at do-or-die in New Hampshire now.
--Cruz has a LOT more $$ than Huckabee or Santorum did. --Bush's Right to Rise millions are going to be full-on anti-Rubio in NH the next week. --Never occurred to me before last night that Trump/Rubio were battling for more of the same voters than Trump/Cruz.
Cruz, I think, will finish 3rd in NH behind Trump and Rubio, should beat the field in South Carolina and Nevada, however Super Tuesday is when I think Rubio makes his big move. Colorado, Mass, Minnesota, Vermont, and Virginia I see as all being winners for Rubio. Any state that has large, urban population centers are places where Rubio should do well. It'll be an interesting battle between Cruz and Rubio. Trump, I'd guess, will drop out after South Carolina.
Latino and tax-sheltering-retiree lives matter! Also, all the hipsters in Reno ... and whoever the hell is living in Winnemucca these days.