The Iowa caucuses are finally here, and we’re liveblogging the first results of the 2016 presidential nominating contests. The caucuses start at 8 PM Eastern sharp (latecomers are not permitted to participate). As results come in, you can consult our guides to how the caucuses work and what to expect.
Results: AP (statewide) | AP (by county) | Iowa Democrats | Iowa GOP | NYT | Politico
One possible asset to Hillary is Polk County, the state’s biggest, which is only 39% in. She's leading 55-45 there.
It’s 63% reporting, and things are very tight indeed: Clinton 50.7, Sanders 48.7.
Republicans are at 41% reporting: Cruz 29, Trump 26, Rubio 20.
If anything resembling the current GOP results holds, then both Cruz and Rubio will come out looking good: Cruz, because he won despite recent polls showing him sagging, and Rubio, because he surged into a clear third place. The biggest loser in the perceptions game? Donald Trump.
Bit by bit, Cruz keeps pulling away from Trump. With 50% reporting, it’s now 29-25-21 Cruz-Trump-Rubio.
Just re-upping this post: Ted Cruz is the biggest asshole in America.
We haven’t paid attention to the GOP also-rans all night, but here's something amusing: Rand Paul is in 5th place, behind Ben Carson. That means that Jeb Bush, he of the $100 million super PAC, is in 6th, trailing Rand freaking Paul.
The final Iowa poll average isn’t looking too good right now. It gave Trump a 31-24 lead on Cruz. The Dem poll average seems to have been a lot more accurate, with Clinton +3.
New thread here.