Iowa Caucus: Pete Buttigieg Leads The Way Ahead Of Pete Buttigieg

In the United States, the partial results announced this Tuesday, February 4 place, Pete Buttigieg, at the head of the Democratic primaries in Iowa.

Pete Buttigieg created the surprise in the race for the Democratic candidacy for the American presidency. This Tuesday, in Iowa, the 30-year-old took advantage of a short header over Senator Bernie Sanders, according to partial results, thus establishing himself as an essential candidate in the primaries of his party.

On 62% of the polling stations, the mayor of South Bend, in Indiana, obtained 26.9% of the delegates from Iowa, against 25.1% for Bernie Sanders. Elizabeth Warren, who represents the party’s left-wing with the latter, came third with 18.3%, followed by Joe Biden (15.6%) and moderate senator Amy Klobuchar (12.6%).

Pete Buttigieg celebrated an “ astounding victory ”. ” This campaign started a year ago with four permanent staff, not a known name, no money but a great idea, ” said the 38-year-old gay candidate, before supporters gathered in New Hampshire.

The final results could differ, and it is not known when they will be announced due to a computer bug that transformed this first deadline into a fiasco. The vote for Iowa, a small rural state that always speaks first, was done Monday evening, not in ballots but in assemblies where voters regroup and count themselves by a candidate, in two rounds, a system of Complex and criticized “caucus”.

These first figures sound in any case like a slap for Joe Biden, who presented himself throughout the campaign as the only candidate capable of uniting the Americans. “His favourite stature is a little dented,” said Charles Voisin, journalist, a specialist in the United States. It is true that if he “seduces and remains popular “, Joe Biden does not arouse ” great enthusiasm “, especially among young people.

The first figures also reveal that Pete Buttigieg achieves good scores in the rather conservative rural counties which were coveted by the former vice-president. The age of the candidates undoubtedly played a role. Pete Buttigieg is 40 years younger than Joe Biden, recalls our special correspondent Anne Corpet. Biden could nevertheless take ” his revenge ” at the next big meeting in South Carolina, for example.

Sanders’ “good momentum”

Bernie Sanders, he conquered the east of the state, more industrial, and he made a breakthrough in the counties where the Latin Americans live. A good omen for the figure of the left-wing of the Democratic Party, which launched several months ago a vast campaign near this part of the population, in particular in California, a crucial State for the conquest of the nomination.

” Bernie Sanders has been the subject of an increase which is all the more interesting as it has benefited from excellent timing, and everything is in timing “, explains Lauric Henneton, professor at the University of Versailles Saint -Quentin-en-Yvelines. The candidate’s campaign benefits from ” good momentum ” but it remains to be seen whether ” good successes will allow him to narrow the gap where he was less well placed “.

The participation rate in this poll was not very high. It was comparable to that of 2016. This is undoubtedly what prevented Bernie Sanders from snatching the first place. But these are only partial results and there are many steps left before a Democratic candidate is nominated. The next will take place on February 11 with the New Hampshire primaries.

Donald Trump, the real winner of the streak

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is jubilant. “The Democrats want to run a Country, and they can’t run a Caucus.”, taunted the White House tenant on Twitter after the technical and political fiasco in the Democratic election was announced. In addition to this unfortunate episode for the opposing camp, the American president profits from an “ alignment of planets ”, analyzes Lauric Henneton.

The Union speech that Donald Trump delivers this Tuesday evening will allow him to occupy the media space. And the acquittal from which he will benefit this Wednesday in the dismissal trial will complete his designation as the big winner of this streak.

According to a Gallup poll published on Tuesday, February 4, the American president has 49% of favorable opinions, his highest score since his installation in the Oval Office in January 2017.