Trump suffers shock defeat
Cruz wins first Republican caucus vote
REPUBLICAN Donald Trump’s surprise defeat in Iowa at the hands of US Senator Ted Cruz reflected shortcomings in his get-out-the-vote operations and an over-reliance on his celebrity status in a state where voters prefer the personal touch.
The New York billionaire and former TV reality star generated much enthusiasm for his anti-establishment message‚ but in the end he was out-muscled by Cruz’s more traditional ground game and saw some late-deciding voters side with US Senator Marco Rubio.
Cruz won 28% of the vote compared with 24% for Trump, whose aggressive and unorthodox campaign has been marked by controversies ranging from his calls to ban Muslims temporarily from entering the United States to his pledge to build a wall along the USMexican border.
Florida senator Rubio, 44, came in third with 23%, making a stronger-than-expected finish and establishing himself as the mainstream Republican alternative to the two front-runners in the race to represent the party at the November 8 presidential election.
All signs pointed to a Trump victory in the first nominating contest in the race for the White House‚ with the Des Moines Register’s poll giving him the lead at the weekend before Iowans went to caucus on Monday.
The loss‚ while not by a large margin‚ raised questions about Trump’s ability to perform as well in voting contests as he does in polls.
Before Monday‚ Trump had repeatedly boasted that he would easily win Iowa‚ and he has been the front-runner in most national polls since the middle of last year.
Sensing victory‚ Trump had mocked Cruz’s strategy in the hours before voters went to their caucus sites.
For some though‚ the specifics of Trump’s plan for turning out his supporters on Monday were questionable.
Instead of aggressively trying to convert any and all Republicans to his cause as Cruz did‚ Trump relied mostly on signing up supporters from among those attending his rallies.
The challenge Trump faced was trying to persuade these people‚ many of whom had never participated in a caucus before‚ to show up.
Trump’s bombastic style and flair for the dramatic may in the end have not helped as much as he would have hoped.
As Cruz and Rubio went the more traditional route of talking to small groups, Trump would make a dramatic entrance in his private jet‚ emblazoned with his name‚ and tear into his rivals at rallies attended by thousands.
Gary Updegraff‚ a Trump backer and precinct chairman in Des Moines‚ said he believed Trump would adapt his style for future votes.
Some of his supporters think Trump might have performed better had he participated in a Fox News debate last week instead of boycotting in opposition to anchor Megyn Kelly and alleged Fox bias.
