Donald Trump cruised to victory in the Iowa caucuses on Monday – an ominous sign for Republican rivals Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley who are battling it out for second place.
Associated Press declared the former President victorious just 31 minutes after caucusing began as Iowans braved bitterly cold temperatures to cast their vote in schools, churches and community centers.
Their projections indicate more than 70 percent of votes went to the Republican who is bidding to secure the GOP nomination for the third consecutive time.
Trump did not win in Iowa during his successful 2016 bid to become President – losing out to Texas Senator Ted Cruz who took 27.6 percent of the vote to Trump’s 24.3 percent.
But, as of 9.45pm EST, Trump has 52 percent of the vote this time round, compared to DeSantis’s 20.2 percent and Haley’s 19.2 percent. The precise margins continue to shift with second-place far from declared.
READ MORE: Iowa Caucuses LIVE: Donald Trump secures fast win in Iowa as DeSantis and Haley battle on
Trump’s confidence was clear as he called out Joe Biden in front of hundreds of cheering supporters at the Horizon Events Center in Clive, Iowa.
He said of his Democrat rival: “He is totally destroying our country.”
Reacting to the result, Ryan Wiggins chief of staff at anti-Trump PAC The Lincoln Project, told Daily Express US: “The Lincoln Project lives in reality, and we know that Trump and MAGA control the GOP.
“It’s been obvious for months Trump would win tonight and destroy his competition.
“For Trump, it means he’s well on his way towards his inevitable nomination. What it means to democrats and independents is even more important. They need to wake up and understand that he will be the nominee and that it’s time to start working to stop him.”
DeSantis and Haley’s focus now turns to New Hampshire where Haley is hopeful of gaining ground with the state’s independent voters ahead of the January 23 primary.
Florida Governor DeSantis is heading to New Hampshire on Tuesday after stopping in conservative South Carolina where the February 24 primary could prove crucial.
Trump is expected to hold a rally in New Hampshire on Tuesday.
A win in Iowa is not a sure-fire indicator of who will lead the Republican Party into the general election.
In 2000, George W. Bush’s victory was the last time a Republican candidate won in the Hawkeye State and went on to become the party’s standard-bearer.