Clinton Claims Narrow Iowa Win, Sanders Not So Sure

Sanders campaign 'isn't comfortable yet'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 2, 2016 5:24 AM CST
Updated Feb 2, 2016 6:15 AM CST
Clinton Claims Narrow Iowa Win
Hillary Clinton speaks at her caucus night rally at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

After hours of uncertainty, Hillary Clinton appears to have prevailed in Iowa—but the win is about as far from resounding as you can get. Politico reports that according to the Iowa Democratic Party—which tallies "state delegate equivalents" instead of individual votes—Clinton has won the narrowest victory in Democratic caucus history, with 699.57 state delegate equivalents to 695.49 for Bernie Sanders and 7.68 for Martin O'Malley. Results still haven't arrived from a Des Moines precinct "worth 2.28 state delegate equivalents," the party said in a press release, praising a caucus that "featured one of our strongest turnouts ever and passion and energy from Democrats all across our state."

Matt Paul, Clinton's Iowa campaign chief, issued an early-morning statement saying she had won, the Des Moines Register reports. "After thorough reporting—and analysis—of results, there is no uncertainty, and Secretary Clinton has clearly won the most national and state delegates," he said. "Statistically, there is no outstanding information that could change the results and no way that Sen. Sanders can overcome Secretary Clinton's advantage." A Sanders spokeswoman, however, says that with uncertainty about results from several counties, they "definitely don't feel comfortable yet." The AP—which still considers the race too close to call—reports that on his flight to New Hampshire early Tuesday, Sanders said the close Iowa result has given his campaign a "kick-start." (More Hillary Clinton stories.)

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