This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/jan/31/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-ted-cruz-iowa-caucus
The article has changed 27 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| Iowa caucus: candidates offer last pitch as America (finally) prepares to vote – campaign live | Iowa caucus: candidates offer last pitch as America (finally) prepares to vote – campaign live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 2.29am GMT | |
| 02:29 | |
| Meanwhile, in Wisconsin, on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, one-time frontrunner and early Trump casualty Scott Walker has found a way to take his mind off the primaries. | |
| Wow. #GreaseLive is good. | |
| Kinda heartbreaking, huh. | |
| 2.23am GMT | |
| 02:23 | |
| FEC disclosure roundup! Plenty of juicy facts to pick apart as the fourth quarter data comes out of campaign fundraising and spending, and Twitter has been doing just that. Here’s a few of the best nuggets: | |
| Average $ per day by Jeb Bush super PAC plunged to $82,300 a day at end of 2015, from $585,000, w/@rebeccaballhaus https://t.co/v494SnO5cP | |
| Looks like Rubio campaign just about hit its target from October. pic.twitter.com/9ejA1zMtuI | |
| New doc: Over 40% of the $47M @tedcruz raised in 2015 came from grassroots givers donating $200 or less https://t.co/zsvlJgWF01 | |
| Big $ for shell corp linked to Right to Rise fundraiser who's also employed by Jeb! https://t.co/JGpYBSiqYr pic.twitter.com/BhCSrzqeca | |
| Def think @r2rusa has $ issues. But they did end year with $58 million. Any other super PAC would be deliriously happy with that. | |
| 2.10am GMT | |
| 02:10 | |
| Tick, tock. | |
| We have officially reached peak countdown clock. pic.twitter.com/XWwSfJrmUG | |
| 2.05am GMT | |
| 02:05 | |
| Also speaking in Des Moines right now: Chris Christie | |
| Christie has a packed house at this restaurant in West Des Moines. Gov. Terry Branstad just introduced him. pic.twitter.com/knKJKt9Uyn | |
| Christie - Being in US Senate like being in grade school, taking shots at his US Senate opponents & Barrack Obama. pic.twitter.com/nUKJJG0yrm | |
| 2.05am GMT | |
| 02:05 | |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | |
| Hillary is preparing to speak in Des Moines too, and Sabrina is on the scene: | |
| The crowd is still filing in for Hillary Clinton's last rally before the Iowa caucus. pic.twitter.com/bd1WzNL8uf | |
| Crowd is chanting "Iowa believes that she will win!" as they wait for Hillary Clinton in Des Moines. | |
| 2.02am GMT | |
| 02:02 | |
| Harry Davies | |
| Among the handful of billionaire donor to have poured millions into pro-Clinton Super Pac Priorities USA Action, is financier and scion of one of the richest families in the US, J. B. Pritzker and his wife, M. K. Pritzker, reports Harry Davies. | |
| Together, the couple gave $1.8m to the group, which pulled in an eye-watering $25m, according to the latest FEC disclosures. | |
| Pritzker, who is one of the heirs to the Hyatt hotel fortune, has a net worth of $3.3bn according to Forbes. He is an influential figure in Chicago, where he runs the private equity and venture capital firm, The Pritzker Group, which contributed to the re-election of Chicago mayor Rahm Emmanuel. A 2014 Chicago Magazine profile of Pritzker named him: “The Other Mayor of Chicago”. | |
| The wealthy investor and philanthropist is the brother of Penny Pritzker, the Obama-appointed Commerce Secretary and fellow multibillionaire, who is known to use her personal Gulfstream private jet for official business. | |
| Updated | |
| at 2.02am GMT | |
| 1.57am GMT | |
| 01:57 | |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | |
| The Rubio campaign says they received over 93,000 donations from all 50 states and raised over $5 million online. | |
| NEWS: Marco Rubio raised $14.19 million last quarter and has $10.39 million cash-on-hand entering 2016. | |
| The Rubio campaign says they received over 93,000 donations from all 50 states and raised over $5 million online, Sabrina reports. | |
| 1.55am GMT | |
| 01:55 | |
| Ben Jacobs is listening to Rick Santorum speak in a restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa, where the former senator was introduced by Chuck Grassley: | |
| Rick Santorum's last Iowa town hall at a Pizza Ranch pic.twitter.com/LyerHEtwSW | |
| Santorum won Iowa in 2012 in an upset that surprised pretty much everyone - can he pull off the same coup this time? According to the polling, probably not; but stranger things have happened. | |
| Rick Santorum gets a question about Donald Trump. He answers by criticizing the undercard debates | |
| Santorum now criticizing Bill O'Reilly. He says he's the only GOP candidate not to be booked on the O'Reilly Factor this year. | |
| Rick Santorum is made an honorary Pizza Ranch employee pic.twitter.com/TeP9tg4xJ9 | |
| 1.49am GMT | 1.49am GMT |
| 01:49 | 01:49 |
| Bernie Sanders is speaking in Des Moines | Bernie Sanders is speaking in Des Moines |
| “Iowans have a unique role to play in the presidential process, and they take taht responsibility very seriously,” the Vermont senator says. | “Iowans have a unique role to play in the presidential process, and they take taht responsibility very seriously,” the Vermont senator says. |
| The live feed is still down - the guy is currently complaining that the government has purposefully damaged infrastructure in this country. But Dan is on the scene, so we’ll have a more detailed report for you soon. | The live feed is still down - the guy is currently complaining that the government has purposefully damaged infrastructure in this country. But Dan is on the scene, so we’ll have a more detailed report for you soon. |
| In the meantime, Sanders appears to be campaigning on the dating app Tinder, so you can catch him there: | In the meantime, Sanders appears to be campaigning on the dating app Tinder, so you can catch him there: |
| Raleigh woman surprised by Bernie Sanders appearing on her Tinder app. He's looking for votes, not a date. pic.twitter.com/oyW5q5nBrP | Raleigh woman surprised by Bernie Sanders appearing on her Tinder app. He's looking for votes, not a date. pic.twitter.com/oyW5q5nBrP |
| 1.39am GMT | 1.39am GMT |
| 01:39 | 01:39 |
| Iowa is set for a snowstorm tomorrow, according to weather reports. | Iowa is set for a snowstorm tomorrow, according to weather reports. |
| Caucuses begin at 7PM central time, roughly at the same time as the National Weather Service has issued blizzard watch warnings for across much of the state, with parts of Iowa forecast six to 18 inches of snow. | Caucuses begin at 7PM central time, roughly at the same time as the National Weather Service has issued blizzard watch warnings for across much of the state, with parts of Iowa forecast six to 18 inches of snow. |
| Whether this will have an effect on caucus turnout is difficult to say, but it’s going to get pretty snowy in the Hawkeye state tomorrow evening. | Whether this will have an effect on caucus turnout is difficult to say, but it’s going to get pretty snowy in the Hawkeye state tomorrow evening. |
| 1.33am GMT | 1.33am GMT |
| 01:33 | 01:33 |
| It’s interesting to compare the venues of Bernie Sanders’ and Hillary Clinton’s rallies in Iowa this evening. Sanders is in Des Moines: | |
| Bernie's last rally before caucus night almost as big as last night but more practically-focused: "Bring everyone" pic.twitter.com/nZN10MTnNi | Bernie's last rally before caucus night almost as big as last night but more practically-focused: "Bring everyone" pic.twitter.com/nZN10MTnNi |
| Clinton will speak at Abraham Lincoln high school in Des Moines, in what looks to be a considerably more modest space: | Clinton will speak at Abraham Lincoln high school in Des Moines, in what looks to be a considerably more modest space: |
| Here is the venue for Hillary Clinton's final rally in Iowa: Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines. pic.twitter.com/jujarlTRtZ | Here is the venue for Hillary Clinton's final rally in Iowa: Abraham Lincoln High School in Des Moines. pic.twitter.com/jujarlTRtZ |
| Updated | |
| at 2.00am GMT | |
| 1.31am GMT | 1.31am GMT |
| 01:31 | 01:31 |
| More Google data here; these live-updated charts show search interest in candidates across the state of Iowa right now: | More Google data here; these live-updated charts show search interest in candidates across the state of Iowa right now: |
| 1.29am GMT | 1.29am GMT |
| 01:29 | 01:29 |
| Trump is on the phone with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough right now, absolutely slamming Ted Cruz, his main rival in the polls in the first caucus state. | Trump is on the phone with MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough right now, absolutely slamming Ted Cruz, his main rival in the polls in the first caucus state. |
| It’s interesting, in Canada, he said he didnt know he was a Canadian citizen ... said he didn’t know about his loan from Goldman Sachs. This guy is a lying guy, he’s hated by everyone. Can’t get the endorsement from the governor of Texas ... [he is running] ads that are unbelievably untrue. | It’s interesting, in Canada, he said he didnt know he was a Canadian citizen ... said he didn’t know about his loan from Goldman Sachs. This guy is a lying guy, he’s hated by everyone. Can’t get the endorsement from the governor of Texas ... [he is running] ads that are unbelievably untrue. |
| 1.26am GMT | 1.26am GMT |
| 01:26 | 01:26 |
| Dan Roberts | Dan Roberts |
| Bernie Sanders is about to speak at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa right now, and Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts is on the scene. | Bernie Sanders is about to speak at a rally in Waterloo, Iowa right now, and Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts is on the scene. |
| Dan reports that organisers at the last Bernie Sanders rally before caucus night are focused heavily on reminding the audience where to go and what to do tomorrow night. | Dan reports that organisers at the last Bernie Sanders rally before caucus night are focused heavily on reminding the audience where to go and what to do tomorrow night. |
| “Stand in the corner with the Bernie stuff, get there early and have fun,” one young volunteer tells the enthusiastic crowd at Grand View University in Des Moines. | “Stand in the corner with the Bernie stuff, get there early and have fun,” one young volunteer tells the enthusiastic crowd at Grand View University in Des Moines. |
| Crucially she reminds them of an often forgotten feature of a campaign that has so many students on its side: “If you are 17 but old enough to vote in the general election in November, you can caucus.” | Crucially she reminds them of an often forgotten feature of a campaign that has so many students on its side: “If you are 17 but old enough to vote in the general election in November, you can caucus.” |
| “Don’t forget to bring a friend, or two... or everyone you know,” she adds. | “Don’t forget to bring a friend, or two... or everyone you know,” she adds. |
| Others are blunter still. “Say no to the big shots, the bastards and the bullshitters,” urges progressive radio host Jim Hightower. | Others are blunter still. “Say no to the big shots, the bastards and the bullshitters,” urges progressive radio host Jim Hightower. |
| Another key supporter, national nurses union leader RoseAnn DeMoro, has harsh words for Hillary Clinton’s attempt to suggest Sanders wants to “dismantle” Obamacare health reforms. | Another key supporter, national nurses union leader RoseAnn DeMoro, has harsh words for Hillary Clinton’s attempt to suggest Sanders wants to “dismantle” Obamacare health reforms. |
| “What is disgraceful is another candidate is telling us that guaranteed, universal health care ‘will never, ever happen’,” saiys DeMoro. “For nurses, turning your back on suffering is the worst crime you can commit.” | “What is disgraceful is another candidate is telling us that guaranteed, universal health care ‘will never, ever happen’,” saiys DeMoro. “For nurses, turning your back on suffering is the worst crime you can commit.” |
| There is little love lost between the two, especially after Clinton attack chief David Brock accused DeMoro of breaking Sanders’ rule not to use Super Pacsin his campaign. | There is little love lost between the two, especially after Clinton attack chief David Brock accused DeMoro of breaking Sanders’ rule not to use Super Pacsin his campaign. |
| “We are not a Super Pac,” an indignant DeMoro tells The Guardian. “This is ordinary members contributing dues and we use that money to engage nurses in the campaign.. It’s an independent expenditure PAC and it’s not just for Bernie, it’s how we do our political work.” | “We are not a Super Pac,” an indignant DeMoro tells The Guardian. “This is ordinary members contributing dues and we use that money to engage nurses in the campaign.. It’s an independent expenditure PAC and it’s not just for Bernie, it’s how we do our political work.” |
| The feed for Sanders’ event is cutting in and out - an announcer is saying “this is [because of] the privatisation of your internet, privatisation of your bandwidth.” It’s here, when it’s running: | The feed for Sanders’ event is cutting in and out - an announcer is saying “this is [because of] the privatisation of your internet, privatisation of your bandwidth.” It’s here, when it’s running: |
| 1.16am GMT | 1.16am GMT |
| 01:16 | 01:16 |
| Less than 24 hours until caucus time in Iowa | Less than 24 hours until caucus time in Iowa |
| 23 hours and 45 minutes, to be precise, until the voting goes down in the Hawkeye state. | 23 hours and 45 minutes, to be precise, until the voting goes down in the Hawkeye state. |
| Election = 6,768 hours away https://t.co/Fmr8AGoOb2 | Election = 6,768 hours away https://t.co/Fmr8AGoOb2 |
| But who’s counting? | But who’s counting? |
| Ted Cruz checks his watch. 24 hours, 30 minutes until the caucuses begin. "This entire long, crazy journey is coming to an end." | Ted Cruz checks his watch. 24 hours, 30 minutes until the caucuses begin. "This entire long, crazy journey is coming to an end." |
| I think he meant "Our long national nightmare is over," but sure. https://t.co/YC50JzTw6T | I think he meant "Our long national nightmare is over," but sure. https://t.co/YC50JzTw6T |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.22am GMT | at 1.22am GMT |
| 1.06am GMT | 1.06am GMT |
| 01:06 | 01:06 |
| By contrast, Rick Santorum’s FEC disclosure data shows that at the end of last year the former senator had just $42k cash on hand at the end of the year, on total fundraising of just $245,555. | By contrast, Rick Santorum’s FEC disclosure data shows that at the end of last year the former senator had just $42k cash on hand at the end of the year, on total fundraising of just $245,555. |
| 1.04am GMT | 1.04am GMT |
| 01:04 | 01:04 |
| Ted Cruz’s federal fundraising data is out | Ted Cruz’s federal fundraising data is out |
| The Texas senator raised $20.5m in the last quarter of 2015, giving him a formidable $19m cash on hand at the and of the year – nearly half of his total fundraising in this election cycle was in the last three months of the year. | The Texas senator raised $20.5m in the last quarter of 2015, giving him a formidable $19m cash on hand at the and of the year – nearly half of his total fundraising in this election cycle was in the last three months of the year. |
| Compare that to the $15m quarter for Jeb (!) Bush, thought to be the epitome of a big-money election, and you can start to see why Cruz is cruising into Iowa caucus day, nipping at the heels of Trump with a high-powered campaign machine. | Compare that to the $15m quarter for Jeb (!) Bush, thought to be the epitome of a big-money election, and you can start to see why Cruz is cruising into Iowa caucus day, nipping at the heels of Trump with a high-powered campaign machine. |
| We’ve still yet to get all the reports from outside donors to Cruz’s campaign – he’s got a whole troupe of super-Pacs – but stay tuned, as we’ll be breaking them down when they come in ahead of the midnight Federal Election Commission deadline. | We’ve still yet to get all the reports from outside donors to Cruz’s campaign – he’s got a whole troupe of super-Pacs – but stay tuned, as we’ll be breaking them down when they come in ahead of the midnight Federal Election Commission deadline. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.16am GMT | at 1.16am GMT |
| 12.53am GMT | 12.53am GMT |
| 00:53 | 00:53 |
| Part of the reason Trump is reaching out to evangelicals is that polling sees him neck-and-neck in Iowa with Ted Cruz, who is popular on the Christian right. | Part of the reason Trump is reaching out to evangelicals is that polling sees him neck-and-neck in Iowa with Ted Cruz, who is popular on the Christian right. |
| Pledge of allegiance in before #Trump rally in #SiouxCity #Iowa. This is patriotic, religious heartland of #America pic.twitter.com/kCBAyrSoT0 | Pledge of allegiance in before #Trump rally in #SiouxCity #Iowa. This is patriotic, religious heartland of #America pic.twitter.com/kCBAyrSoT0 |
| Cruz is also in church today: | Cruz is also in church today: |
| A full room for @tedcruz's rally here at Adventure Community Church in Davenport, Iowa. pic.twitter.com/KBdBc4GSjl | A full room for @tedcruz's rally here at Adventure Community Church in Davenport, Iowa. pic.twitter.com/KBdBc4GSjl |
| 12.50am GMT | 12.50am GMT |
| 00:50 | 00:50 |
| In the fourth quarter of last year, New Jersey governor Chris Christie consolidated his small but effective fundraising operation, raising nearly $3m, giving him $1m cash on hand, reports the Washington Post. | In the fourth quarter of last year, New Jersey governor Chris Christie consolidated his small but effective fundraising operation, raising nearly $3m, giving him $1m cash on hand, reports the Washington Post. |
| Christie’s haul of $2.95 million in the final three months of the year brings the total raised for his campaign to $7.16 million. Although that amount puts him far behind Republican fundraising leaders including Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), Christie has kept his operation relatively lean and his advisers stressed that he has avoided some of the budget pitfalls of such rivals as former Florida governor Jeb Bush. | Christie’s haul of $2.95 million in the final three months of the year brings the total raised for his campaign to $7.16 million. Although that amount puts him far behind Republican fundraising leaders including Sen. Ted Cruz (Tex.), Christie has kept his operation relatively lean and his advisers stressed that he has avoided some of the budget pitfalls of such rivals as former Florida governor Jeb Bush. |
| “We’ve done a lot more with a lot less,” said Mike DuHaime, Christie’s chief strategist. “We haven’t had any of the problems that other campaigns had with spending. … We’ve been smart and judicious.” | “We’ve done a lot more with a lot less,” said Mike DuHaime, Christie’s chief strategist. “We haven’t had any of the problems that other campaigns had with spending. … We’ve been smart and judicious.” |
| You can read the full story here. | You can read the full story here. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.58am GMT | at 12.58am GMT |
| 12.42am GMT | 12.42am GMT |
| 00:42 | 00:42 |
| Donald Trump is in Sioux City, Iowa, closing out his caucus campaign in an event with the televangenist Jerry Falwell. He’s just donated $100k on stage to a charity which supports injured veterans. | Donald Trump is in Sioux City, Iowa, closing out his caucus campaign in an event with the televangenist Jerry Falwell. He’s just donated $100k on stage to a charity which supports injured veterans. |
| Trump appears to have found God in snowy Iowa. This is the real-estate mogul’s second event today which is aimed to reach out to evangelical Christians in the state; earlier today, Trump and his wife Melania joined pastor Joshua Nink at his church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a Sunday morning service. | Trump appears to have found God in snowy Iowa. This is the real-estate mogul’s second event today which is aimed to reach out to evangelical Christians in the state; earlier today, Trump and his wife Melania joined pastor Joshua Nink at his church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, for a Sunday morning service. |
| 12.37am GMT | 12.37am GMT |
| 00:37 | 00:37 |
| Lauren Gambino | Lauren Gambino |
| Governor John Kasich of Ohio talked terrorism with a 12-year-old and danced around a pointed question about American exceptionalism during a town hall in Bow, New Hampshire, reports Lauren Gambino: | Governor John Kasich of Ohio talked terrorism with a 12-year-old and danced around a pointed question about American exceptionalism during a town hall in Bow, New Hampshire, reports Lauren Gambino: |
| The young girl stood up and began her question but the governor interrupted. “How old are you?” | The young girl stood up and began her question but the governor interrupted. “How old are you?” |
| “Twelve,” she replied as if irritated that adults always ask this. | “Twelve,” she replied as if irritated that adults always ask this. |
| Kasich asked he to wait while he waved over a staffer and instructed him to take a photo. “Voters like these moments,” he said half-jokingly as an aside to the adults in the room. He then let her finish. | Kasich asked he to wait while he waved over a staffer and instructed him to take a photo. “Voters like these moments,” he said half-jokingly as an aside to the adults in the room. He then let her finish. |
| She asked what he was going to do about the terrorists who keep killing Americans. “Do you worry about that?” he asked, “I don’t want you to worry about that.” | She asked what he was going to do about the terrorists who keep killing Americans. “Do you worry about that?” he asked, “I don’t want you to worry about that.” |
| He the proceeded to tell her about the bad guys in Pakistan (“Do you know what Pakistan is? It’s a country who don’t like young girls to go to school”). He also explained that there was a team of specialists dedicated to keeping Americans safe. That team is called a “big long word”: the Joint Terrorism Task Force. After starting on a story about a terrorist attack at a girls school in Pakistan, Kasich decided to try another tack. | He the proceeded to tell her about the bad guys in Pakistan (“Do you know what Pakistan is? It’s a country who don’t like young girls to go to school”). He also explained that there was a team of specialists dedicated to keeping Americans safe. That team is called a “big long word”: the Joint Terrorism Task Force. After starting on a story about a terrorist attack at a girls school in Pakistan, Kasich decided to try another tack. |
| “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” | “So what do you want to be when you grow up?” |
| Later in the event he was asked if believed America really is better than every country, and what message that sends to world leaders. | Later in the event he was asked if believed America really is better than every country, and what message that sends to world leaders. |
| Kasich answered with a football metaphor. “Do you know Tom Brady?...Everybody on [the Patriots] recognizes that he is the leader. That doesn’t mean the rest of the players on the team shouldn’t be respected.” | Kasich answered with a football metaphor. “Do you know Tom Brady?...Everybody on [the Patriots] recognizes that he is the leader. That doesn’t mean the rest of the players on the team shouldn’t be respected.” |
| He added later: “It’s not arrogance, it’s leadership.” | He added later: “It’s not arrogance, it’s leadership.” |
| Kasich ended the event with one final pitch from the heart: | Kasich ended the event with one final pitch from the heart: |
| “Gimmie the vote, would ya?” | “Gimmie the vote, would ya?” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.38am GMT | at 12.38am GMT |