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DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – The latest on developments in Monday’s Iowa caucuses, the opening contest in the 2016 race for the White House (all local times):
10:02 p.m.
Ted Cruz tells The Associated Press that his victory in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses is a victory for the grassroots, and he says his triumph is part of a larger movement of conservatives against what he calls the “Washington cartel.”
Cruz says his win “was a victory for courageous conservatives in Iowa and all around the country.”
The first-term Texas senator says that from “Day One, we built our campaign as a movement for Americans to organize and rally to band together against the disaster of the Washington cartel.”
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9:58 p.m.
Donald Trump says he’s honored by what he’s calling his second-place finish in Iowa’s Republican presidential caucuses.
Trump is speaking at an event with supporters after Ted Cruz was declared the winner of the Monday night contest – the first of the 2016 election.
Trump says that when he started the campaign, he was advised not to compete in Iowa because he couldn’t finish in the top 10. Trump says he felt he had to do it and wanted to give it a shot.
Trump is congratulating Cruz and the other candidates. He says he thinks he’ll win the New Hampshire primary next week and that he will go on to be the GOP nominee and win the White House.
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9:50 p.m.
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz might have picked up momentum by winning the Iowa caucuses, but he’s not going to collect many delegates.
With his victory, Cruz will get at least eight delegates to the Republican National Convention.
Donald Trump will get at least seven, Marco Rubio will get at least six, Ben Carson will get at least two and Rand Paul will get at least one.
Delegates are awarded in proportion to the statewide vote. There are six delegates still to be awarded.
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9:45 p.m.
“We want Ted” is the chant at Ted Cruz’s jubilant caucus-night party in Iowa.
And supporters of the Texas senator – who won Monday night’s Republican caucuses – are soon to get their wish. Cruz is flying from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines to join the celebration.
The crowd erupted in cheers when TV screen showed that the race was being called for their favored candidate.
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9:40 p.m.
Republican Mike Huckabee says he’s ending his second bid for the White House.
The former Arkansas governor writes on Twitter that he’s “officially suspending my campaign.” He’s thanking his backers for their loyal support, adding the hashtag #ImWithHuck.
He joined the race last May, with an announcement in the hometown he shares with former President Bill Clinton. But Huckabee became just one candidate in a crowded field that included many political newcomers.
His campaign failed to take off with candidates like billionaire Donald Trump, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio dominating the race.
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9:27 p.m.
It’s Ted Cruz on top in the leadoff Republican presidential caucuses in Iowa.
The Texas senator has edged past of Donald Trump and a crowded GOP field.
Cruz won with strong support from Iowa’s influential evangelical community and conservative voters.
Cruz’s victory in the first contest of the 2016 race comes just four years after he rode a tea party wave to win election to the Senate.
The race now moves to New Hampshire, where Trump has strong support among voters frustrated and angry with Washington.
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9:20 p.m.
There are big differences when it comes to the age of caucus-goers in Iowa who say they are supporting Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders.
More than 8 in 10 Democratic caucus-goers under 30 say they came to support Sanders on Monday night, as did nearly 6 in 10 of those between age 30 and 44.
But nearly 6 in 10 caucus-goers between age 45 and 64, and 7 in 10 of those 65 and over, came out to back Clinton.
That’s according to entrance poll interviews with people arriving at their caucus sites.
The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 40 randomly selected sites for Democratic and Republican caucuses.
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9 p.m.
Democrat Martin O’Malley has suspended his presidential campaign.
The former Maryland governor and Baltimore mayor never gained traction against rivals Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
Word about O’Malley’s move comes from people familiar with his decision. They weren’t authorized to discuss it publicly and requested anonymity.
O’Malley campaigned as a can-do chief executive who pushed through key parts of the Democratic agenda in Maryland. They included gun control, support for gay marriage and an increase in the minimum wage.
But O’Malley struggled to raise money and was polling in the single-digits for months despite campaigning actively in Iowa and New Hampshire.
-Associated Press writers Ken Thomas and Catherine Lucey contributed to this report.
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8:50 p.m.
Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is the top choice among very conservative caucus-goers in Iowa, while Donald Trump is No. 1 among moderates.
That’s according to entrance poll interviews among those arriving at caucus sites conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.
Those who say they’re somewhat conservative are split between Marco Rubio and Trump.
Half of GOP caucus-goers say they prefer a candidate from outside the political establishment, while 4 in 10 say they prefer someone with political experience.
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8:35 p.m.
The crowd has come alive for Marco Rubio at a concert hall that’s hosting caucuses for two Iowa precincts outside Des Moines.
The Florida senator tells caucus-goers that he knows they might have come out to support other candidates in the Republican race. But he also says that he believes “with all my heart I can unite this party.”
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8:25 p.m.
Ben Carson plans to trade the cold of Iowa for the warmer Florida for a few days.
A campaign spokesman says the Republican presidential candidate is heading home to West Palm Beach after the Iowa caucuses.
Carson plans to speak at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington on Thursday and then will head to New Hampshire.
The plan is to leave Iowa on Monday night in hopes of getting ahead of a winter storm.
“Not standing down” – that’s what spokesman Jason Osborne posted on Carson’s twitter feed.
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8:15 p.m.
Donald Trump’s voice is hoarse but he still has lots to say.
He’s telling 2,000 Republicans in suburban Des Moines, Iowa, that “we’re going to win again” and take back the country.
Trump is criticizing the Obama administration’s foreign and trade policy, promising to command respect for the United States in the world.
Trump says his mission in the presidential race is to “make America great again.”
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8:05 p.m.
Early arrivals at Iowa’s Democratic caucus sites are split among health care, the economy and income inequality as the top issue facing the country.
That’s according to preliminary results of an entrance poll at caucus locations.
Almost 3 in 10 say experience is the most important quality in deciding which candidate to back. What’s next? Honesty and someone who cares about people like them.
Six in 10 say the next president should continue President Barack Obama’s policies.
The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 40 randomly selected sites for Democratic caucuses in Iowa.
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7:55 p.m.
Republican or Democrat – Jeb Bush is criticizing them all.
President Barack Obama. Hillary Clinton. Donald Trump. Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio.
Bush tells supporters in New Hampshire that Obama is “a failed president.” And the former Florida governor is hitting Trump – though not by name – for “insulting” his way toward the presidency.
The latest statewide polls in New Hampshire show Bush in a fight for second place. Trump holds a commanding lead.
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7:45 p.m.
Here’s what’s at stake on the delegate front in the Iowa caucuses.
The Democrats have 44 delegates at stake and the Republicans have 30. That’s just a small sliver of what it will take to win each party’s nomination.
For Democrats, it will take 2,382 delegates to win the nomination. For Republicans, it will take 1,237.
Hillary Clinton starts off with a big lead because of endorsements by Democratic superdelegates. They’re the party leaders who can support the candidate of their choice.
Clinton has 362 endorsements to just eight for Bernie Sanders. Martin O’Malley has two.
Republicans don’t have nearly as many superdelegates.
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7:37 p.m.
Let the caucusing begin.
On a winter night, Iowans are meeting in party caucuses and express their preferences for the Democratic and Republican candidates in the race for the 2016 nominations.
At stake is crucial early momentum in the campaign. For some candidates, the future of their White House hopes may lie in the balance.
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7:10 p.m.
Early arrivals at Iowa’s Republican caucus sites are deeply unhappy with how the federal government is working.
That’s according to preliminary results of an entrance poll of those arriving at caucus locations.
Four in 10 say they’re angry. One-half say they’re dissatisfied.
Almost 4 in 10 say the most important quality in a candidate is someone who shares their values.
Also, 2 in 10 want someone who can bring needed change.
The survey was conducted for The Associated Press and the television networks by Edison Research as voters arrived at 40 randomly selected sites for Democratic and Republican caucuses in Iowa.
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7 p.m.
The Republican race in Iowa seems to be a three-way contest among Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio.
That’s according to entrance poll interviews with early arrivals to caucus sites conducted by Edison Research for The Associated Press and television networks.
On the Democratic side, the race appears tight between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
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5:50 p.m.
For the election night party in Iowa, Ted Cruz’s campaign has booked a country music band that bills itself as having “blue collar roots and a fun attitude.’
Red, white and blue banners with Cruz’s campaign slogans “Trusted” and “Cruzin’ to Victory” are hanging from the ceiling of the Elwell Family Food Center at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
But most of the attention will be focused on two large video screens that will show results from the Iowa caucuses.
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5:20 p.m.
Even before Iowa’s caucuses get underway, Donald Trump is predicting “a tremendous victory.”
That’s his message to supporters in a hotel ballroom in Cedar Rapids.
Trump is banking on a stronger-than-usual turnout. Polling shows many potential caucus-goers are new to the process.
Some of Trump’s children plan to attend caucuses around the state and promote their dad’s candidacy.
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5:06 p.m.
Chris Christie says he’s ready to be president and that Barack Obama wasn’t in 2008.
Christie’s message to New Hampshire voters: Don’t put another first-term senator in the White House.
It’s a knock by the New Jersey governor on two of the Republicans in the race – freshmen Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida.
Christie says they’ve never managed anything – and running the country isn’t something they’re up to.
Obama was a first-term senator from Illinois when he beat Republican John McCain in 2008.
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4:37 p.m.
The day began for Chris Christie in Iowa and ended in New Hampshire.
The Iowa caucuses were still hours away and Christie already was back in New Hampshire, appealing for support in the state’s primary Feb. 9.
The New Jersey governor has focused much of his campaigning in New Hampshire and hopes for a strong showing.
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2:48 p.m.
The National Weather Service says temperatures in Iowa are expected to remain above freezing when hundreds of thousands of people gather Monday night for the caucuses.
It’s good news for presidential candidates who’ve been begging supporters to attend caucuses.
Look for snow to move in late at night, with up to a foot forecast. That could complicate the getaway plans of candidates and others set to head to New Hampshire for the Feb. 9 primary.
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12:45 p.m.
John Kasich says his rivals should follow his lead and call on the super political action committees supporting specific candidates to take down negative advertisements.
Kasich is spending Monday campaigning in New Hampshire rather than Iowa. The Ohio governor says candidates should spend the next week talking about “what they’re for” rather than knocking each other down.
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12:20 p.m.
The commander of military operations against the Islamic State group says carpet bombing strikes against Islamic State militants – a tactic proposed by Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz – is “inconsistent with our values” as a nation.
Army Lt. Gen. Sean MacFarland spoke by teleconference from Iraq.
He says such indiscriminate bombing would kill innocent civilians as well as enemy combatants.
MaFarland says the United States has a guiding set of principles that govern how American forces conduct themselves on the battlefield.
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12:14 p.m.
Donald Trump says evangelical Christians “really do get me.”
He’s bragging about his support from the group also pursued by rival Ted Cruz just hours before the leadoff Iowa caucuses.
Here’s what Trump says about evangelicals at a rally in Waterloo: “Boy do they understand me. They understand me better than anybody.”
The thrice-married Trump may seem an unusual fit for the conservative Christian voters that play a large role in Iowa. But he has won the support of many, including Liberty University founder Jerry Falwell Jr.
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12:13 p.m.
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders says that win or lose in Iowa, he’s planning for a long campaign.
Sanders says tells reporters on his campaign bus – “We are in this to win at the convention. We’re taking this all of the way.”
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11:50 a.m.
Donald Trump is telling Iowans that rival Ted Cruz “will destroy your ethanol businesses, 100 percent.”
Those are fighting words in the agricultural state that voting on presidential nominees at Monday night’s caucuses.
At rally in Waterloo, Iowa, Trump says Cruz is controlled by his donors, including big oil companies.
Cruz has advocated phasing out ethanol subsidies over time – a position that is deeply unpopular in the agricultural state.
In contrast, Trump says, “I’m a supporter and I always will be a supporter.”
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11: 45 a.m.
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is imploring his volunteers and supporters to help him claim victory in Iowa’s caucuses.
Sanders says, “We’ve got a tie ball game – that’s where we are.”
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10:55 a.m.
Hillary Clinton has visited a campaign office in south Des Moines to rally her troops ahead of Monday night’s Iowa caucuses.
Bringing iced coffee and doughnuts, Clinton and her daughter, Chelsea, are mingling and snapping selfies with several dozen volunteers.
Nearly 9,000 campaign volunteers for the campaign knocked on 186,000 doors in Iowa over the past three days, according Clinton’s staff.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
