While Republicans have essentially wrapped up their Iowa caucuses with Ted Cruz declaring a narrow victory over a crowded Republican presidential field, the Democratic race has only tightened up as the votes have come in and many on Twitter are questioning why Hillary Clinton’s campaign is already counting a win as her small lead shrinks every hour.
With 94 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton and Sanders are virtually tied at 49.8 percent and 49.6 percent, respectively.
Although it was reported that both Clinton and Sanders’ campaign intended to declare victory tonight, Twitter took Clinton to task particularly for getting ahead of the results:
Both Clinton and Sanders are ready to declare victory in Iowa, CNN reports.
90% of precincts reporting pic.twitter.com/EL3eVHR0Ot
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) February 2, 2016
I'm no expert on this, but seems foolhardy for Clinton's campaign to declare victory at this moment. pic.twitter.com/leA7shMwUH
— Matt Ashburn (@mattashburn) February 2, 2016
Hillary trying to declare victory early only plays into Bernie’s message that the system is rigged. Tone deaf.
— Taegan Goddard (@politicalwire) February 2, 2016
Methinks the Hillary Clinton campaign might regret saying "I do declare!" victory.
— John Brandkamp (@johnbrandkamp) February 2, 2016
#Hillary is about to declare victory by .4%. Only a Clinton can call that a victory. #Bernie
— Jody Veldkamp (@jodycginc) February 2, 2016
WTF.
How can the Clinton campaign declare victory when the two of them are basically at 50% AND have the same amt of delegates? 😐
— 🇵🇷harmony🇭🇹 || FREE TAY K (@harmonylollipop) February 2, 2016
Analysts on MSNBC are expressing amazement that Clinton would declare victory, with such a slim margin separating them.
— Julian Darius (@JulianDarius) February 2, 2016
There was, of course, some dissenting opinion because Twitter:
In the end, Clinton addressed her supporters first, never directly declaring a win while Sanders proudly proclaimed victory in a “virtual tie.”
.@HillaryClinton: “Thank you, Iowa!” https://t.co/Cfr0C4ASzJ pic.twitter.com/ypEoNWFJt0
— POLITICO (@politico) February 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/EvanMcSan/status/694391513028005888/photo/1
