Iowa Caucus record attendance puts Clinton and Sanders in dead heat, Cruz over Trump

Record attendance at local precinct caucuses on Monday night, Feb. 1, was part of the record turnout across Iowa. It was a year with many attending a caucus for the first time locally as well as across the state. Long lines and shortage of materials were part of the Republican caucus at Sully Community Center for residents of Elk Creek and Lynn Grove Townships. It was standing room only with 286 plus children attending, according to Marv Goodyk, precinct chairman. “Ted Cruz won by a huge margin with 152,” Goodyk said, “[Donald] Trump had 36, [Ben] Carson with 42, and [Marco] Rubio with 33.”

Cruz won in the state with 27.65 percent as well as in Jasper County with about 35 percent followed by Trump with 25 percent in the county and 24.31 percent statewide. Rubio had 18 percent in the county and 23.09 percent in the state.

A long line of caucus goers waits patiently to get into the standing-room-only Republican caucus held at the Sully Community Center on Monday, Feb. 1.

A long line of caucus goers waits patiently to get into the standing-room-only Republican caucus held at the Sully Community Center on Monday, Feb. 1.

Local Democrats from Elk Creek and Lynn Grove Townships caucused at Lynnville City Hall with 42 in attendance, according to DaNaye Van De Krol, precinct chair. “We had two delegates for [Bernie] Sanders and one each for [Hillary] Clinton and [Martin] O’Malley,” she said.

Clinton and Sanders were close in Jasper County, just as they were on the state level. Clinton took 51.5 percent of the Jasper County vote, to 45 percent for Sanders. Statewide, it was a dead heat with Clinton at 49.86 percent and Sanders with 49.57 percent.

The candidates are now headed to New Hampshire for the nation’s first primary on Feb. 9.

Bernie Sanders posters line one of the walls at the Democrat’s Lynnville City Hall caucus location.

Bernie Sanders posters line one of the walls at the Democrat’s Lynnville City Hall caucus location.

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