US Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz gets major win over Donald Trump in Iowa

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz defeated Donald Trump in the Iowa caucuses on Monday, a come-from-behind victory that raises questions about the billionaire's ability to translate his support in polls into actual votes.

Trump barely held off Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for third place.

”People are frustrated with the career politicians in Washington who have left the American people behind," Cruz had said earlier in the day as he completed his tour of all 99 Iowa caucuses.

Trump, who like Cruz waged an anti-establishment battle in the Hawkeye State, told supporters during a downcast rally in West Des Moines that he did much better than many people predicted when he launched his maverick campaign in mid-June. While congratulating Cruz and other candidates, Trump said he will still win the Republican nomination, and set his sights on upcoming primaries in New Hampshire (Feb. 9) and South Carolina (Feb. 20).

"On to New Hampshire," he said.

Rubio, meanwhile, declared his third-place finish a major victory, telling backers it makes him a major competitor for the Republican nomination.

"This is no ordinary election," Rubio said, calling the result an important step to "winning this election."

Rubio also saluted former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, the 2008 caucus winner who announced he was suspending his campaign after a poor finish on Monday.

While recent polls gave Trump a slight lead over Cruz in Iowa, Cruz told supporters he saw a statistical tie as voters headed for caucus locations Monday night.

Republicans produced a record turnout for the Iowa caucuses. While both Cruz and Trump emphasized efforts to attract new voters to the polls, Cruz and his team appeared to do the better job.

The vote came less than a week after Trump boycotted a Republican debate in Des Moines, claiming sponsors at Fox News treated him unfairly.

Other Republican candidates — Ben Carson, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush and Carly Fiorina — all fought mainly to exceed expectations. All hope a better-than-expected finish here will spark their efforts in the next Republican delegate contest, the New Hampshire primary on Feb. 9.

(UStoday.com)