This time the polls were exactly right. Sen. Bernie Sanders took New Hampshire overwhelmingly and Donald Trump triumphed over his Republican rivals.
Sanders beat Hillary Clinton by the predicted margin of 20 percent, with 60 percent of the vote and 13 convention delegates. Clinton tallied 38 percent with nine convention delegates. After a complicated count in the state, Clinton has 44 delegates and Sanders has 36. In overall delegates, super and electorally, Clinton has 394 and Sanders has 42. A Democratic candidate needs 2382 to be the nominee.
Trump corralled 35 percent of the vote and 10 delegates, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich, with a surprising second-place finish, garnered 15 percent of the vote and 3 delegates. Sen. Ted Cruz, who won the Iowa caucuses, pulled in 11 percent, as did former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, each with 2 delegates. If this pattern holds true, either Trump or Cruz will be the Republican nominee, because no party candidate has gone forward without winning either Iowa or New Hampshire.
To be the Republican nominee, 1237 delegates are needed.
“Together,” Sanders said during his victory speech, “we have sent a message that will echo from Wall Street to Washington—from Maine to California—and that is that the government of our great country belongs to all the people, and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributors and their super PACs. What our camp is about is thinking big, not small, having the courage to reject the status quo.”
It was a rousing and lengthy speech that almost left him hoarse. But it was hardly enough for his cheering throng. Now, he said, it was on to Nevada and South Carolina, “and the rest of the country.” And to a breakfast in Harlem with the Rev. Al Sharpton.
“I want to congratulate Senator Sanders on his win tonight,” Clinton said in her concession speech, thanking her volunteers and supporters. “I want to say I still love New Hampshire, and I always will.” She loved it even more in 2008, when she scored a comeback victory over Barack Obama. To get back on track, she hopes to take the contests in Nevada and South Carolina.
The next primaries and caucuses are not as coordinated as Iowa and New Hampshire. In South Carolina, Saturday, Feb. 20 is the Republican primary; the Democrats choose their candidate the following Saturday, Feb. 27. On Feb. 20, the Democrats will have their caucuses in Nevada and the Republicans will have theirs Tuesday, Feb. 23.
“We learned a lot about ground games in one week, I’ve got to tell you,” Trump said during his victory speech, referring to his setback in Iowa. “Congratulations to Bernie, in all fairness. We wish him a lot of luck, but we are going to make American great again but we’re going to do it the old-fashioned way.” As ever, Trump’s comments leave a lot of room for speculation about what he means.
One thing is for sure: What many pundits thought would be a brief appearance on the national political stage for Trump has turned into extended tour, and it’s to be seen how well he fares during the next round of primaries and caucuses.
