Late Monday night, and into early Tuesday morning, the political world was awaiting word from the Hawkeye State that everything was okay.
The Iowa caucuses had begun earlier that day, and promised to provide the country with its first real look at how the Democratic candidates for 2020 fared under actual voting situations.
But, given the event’s newfound embracing of an app-based polling system, results from the all-important contest were simply not available to anyone…even as we approached the 1am hour on the east coast.
Despite this shocking lack of information, one unlikely candidate is declaring victory.
Former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is declaring victory in Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, even though no official results have been reported.
Speaking to supporters late Monday in Des Moines, the Democratic presidential candidate says, “By all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious.”
He adds: “Tonight, an improbable hope became an undeniable reality.”
Of course, Mayor Pete had to make reference to the elephant in the room.
Buttigieg acknowledged the confusion in his speech, saying, “We don’t know all the results.” He added that still, “Iowa, you have shocked the nation.”
We will just have to wait and see what Tuesday morning brings, and if Pete Buttigieg is still our winner by the time we awaken.
