Trump passes major US election test with easy win in Iowa
DES MOINES, United States (AFP) — Donald Trump romped to a lightning-quick victory Monday in Iowa's caucuses — the first vote in the US presidential race — cementing his status as the presumptive Republican standard-bearer to challenge President Joe Biden in November's election.
The former president has led polling for more than a year, but the contest was seen as the clearest insight yet into whether he can convert his advantage into a stunning White House return.
Major US networks took just 30 minutes to project the winner, with Trump opening up an unprecedented 32-point lead over second-placed Ron Desantis over the following hour or so.
The Florida governor and Trump's other main rival — former UN ambassador Nikki Haley — appeared to be locked in a tussle for the runnerup spot at around 20 and 19 percent respectively.
There had been questions as to whether Trump might have been hamstrung by his legal problems, as he faces civil and criminal trials in multiple jurisdictions in 2024.
But the Iowa victory demonstrated the 77-year-old's success in turning his prosecutions into a rallying cry that has galvanized his followers as he takes his momentum into New Hampshire, the next state to nominate, next Tuesday.
Heart doctor Allan Latcham, 62, who voted before heading to Trump's election party in Des Moines, hailed a "night for victory," although he admitted he was surprised by the speed of the result call.
Latcham told AFP that he wanted Trump to "get back to DC," adding that the Republican was "going to help (control) the border" where migrants cross from Mexico — a key issue in US politics.
Sub-zero temperatures
Bundled up Iowa residents shuffled into more than 1,600 voting locations, braving sub-zero temperatures in a winter storm that forced candidates to cancel events at the last minute.
Aides of all the hopefuls had fretted over turnout, with some justification, as the number of caucus-goers was estimated shortly after the contest opened to be around 130,000 — substantially down on the 187,000 who turned out in 2016.
The margin of Trump victory was always the main question of the night, with analysts arguing that a gap above 30 points, or a voting share of more than 50 percent, would be far above par.
The Trump machine is better organized than when he lost Iowa in 2016, with boots on the ground across the early nominating states.
He has been staging rallies in front of crowds where he has driven home with uncharacteristic discipline his message that immigration and border security are America's biggest issues.
The Realclearpolitics polling average shows Trump leading the Republican field nationally with 61.4 percent support. Haley and Desantis trail at 12 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively.
The Iowa result is seen as critical for Desantis, who shifted significant resources to the state and spent months wooing voters in all 99 counties.
Analysts say anything short of a second-place finish would be disastrous for the hardline conservative, who is seeking to regain ground lost to Haley.
'Younger blood'
"I knew Trump would win. I just wanted to help Desantis maybe get into second," said Julia Talerico, who came with her mother to caucus in Des Moines for the Florida governor.
"I voted Trump first couple of times around. I just feel like we need a change and see some younger blood."
Haley, the only woman in the Republican contest, was looking to outperform expectations in Iowa and ride into a one-on-one match-up with Trump in her preferred battleground of New Hampshire.