TOO CLOSE

Hillary Declares Iowa Win, Bernie Says Tie

Clinton claims Sanders can’t overcome delegate math.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton’s campaign declared victory in Iowa early Tuesday morning, after a long night locked in a tie with Sen. Bernie Sanders. Both the former secretary of state and the Vermont senator garnered roughly 49 percent, but with nearly all results in, Clinton’s camp said she had secured a margin of victory that can’t be overcome with the remaining votes in the arcane caucus math. “After thorough reporting—and analysis—of results, there is no uncertainty and Secretary Clinton has clearly won the most national and state delegates,” declared Clinton’s Iowa state director, Matt Paul. Clinton reportedly won about four more state delegate equivalents than Sanders, with one precinct yet to report totals. Late Monday, Clinton was undeterred even when she hadn’t yet won, hosting a victory party during which she said she was “breathing a sigh of relief” even when the results were unclear. During his caucus-night speech, Sanders asserted the voting was a “virtual tie.” Despite final polling data favoring a clear Clinton victory in the first-in-the-nation caucus, the race came down to a several thousand votes, and a razor-thin margin that resulted in a “too-close-to-call” election for much of the night.