Two presidential candidates quickly announced their departure from the campaign trail after disappointing results from Iowa caucuses started to roll in Monday.
And former rivals are scrambling to grab their supporters.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley both threw in the towel in the presidential race last night.
Huckabee quickly garnered praise from GOP rivals like billionaire Donald Trump and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio after he ended his second campaign for the White House amid a dismal showing in the state that he won in his first bid eight years ago.
As caucus results were still streaming in, Huckabee wrote on Twitter that he was “officially suspending my campaign.” He thanked his backers for their loyal support, adding the hashtag #ImWithHuck. Calls to the Huckabee campaign for comment were not immediately returned.
His campaign failed to take off early on, with candidates like billionaire Donald Trump, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio dominating the race.
And on the Democratic side, O’Malley ended his presidential campaign midway through vote-counting Monday, terminating a bid that failed to gain traction against rivals Hillary Clinton and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
O’Malley’s decision to drop out of the race came even before a winner had been declared but as early results showed O’Malley garnering negligible support in the first primary contest. His plans were disclosed by two people familiar with his decision, who weren’t authorized to discuss the decision publicly and requested anonymity.
The former two-term governor and Baltimore mayor campaigned as a can-do chief executive who had pushed through key parts of the Democratic agenda in Maryland, including gun control, support for gay marriage and an increase in the minimum wage.
Maryland’s top lawmakers, including Sens. Barbara Mikulski and Ben Cardin, sided with Clinton and O’Malley won the endorsement of just one member of Congress — Rep. Eric Swallwell of California.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Why can’t Iowa have a primary election like the other states? A bunch of people gathering in halls buying coffee for each other is not good democracy. Only a small percent of Iowans even participate. N.H. next week has an election primary where people vote in a booth. Normal! No foolish coffee parties like Iowa. Trump and Sanders will prevail in N.H. because it’s a real American style election.
Democracy often works better in an atmosphere of open discussions among your neighbors than in retreating to a voting booth after just listening to sounds bites from people with big egos pandering to your fears and frustrations.
I think people can be swayed one way or another, especially by neighbors and friends and all voting should be on paper (although that may not be tamper proof.) AND yes photo ID should be a law especially with the way things are going in this country.
I think you are correct. Photo ID should be a no brainer, in my humble opinion. I always wonder how many “dead” people will have a ballot & how many undocumented illegal refugees will get an illegal ballot. There’s ALWAYS fraud from one group or another!!
But; Lately, that fraud has grown, exponentiously, thanks to obuma’s destruction of the election system.
Trump got votes baced on emitoinalinsm
The Australian ballot is the BEST way to vote. It prevents influence and pressure on voters. The Iowa Caucus belongs in the 1800’s.
02Feb.2016
Hello Mate
Bobby here from up on top in Tennessee, USA.
How do you Aussies vote in your elections?
Maybe I can get it started over here in the back woods.
MN1 Robert Briggs
USN Retired
[email protected]
Good Day
Thanks Again Mate.
@ Robert Briggs: The term Australian ballot means a secret ballot in a voting booth. It started in Australia in the late 1800’s and was adopted here in the USA . The closest I get to “Down Under” is taking the subway.
Good point ! I didn’t know all that.
Why can’t these caucuses elect someone that is an honest Christian?
SOMETHING IS VERY FUNNY ABOUT IOWA ELECTION.
02Feb.2016
Thanks Main Street.
I do agree with you, it is FUBAR!
FUBAR = Fucked Up Beyond Repair
RB
02Feb.2016
Thanks Main Street.
I do agree with you, it is FUBAR!
RB
Santorum, Fiorina, Paul, Christie, Bush, Carson are next, but not necessarily in that order, but very soon!
The Iowa Caucus restricts full participation in the process.
Exactly, what a stupid way to handle voting! Oh well it’s Iowa!
I prefer a system that splits the electors at the convention in proportion to the number of votes received vice the winner take all system in most states. Win by 2 votes and get everything is wrong and not real democracy. Iowa at least has that right. Needs to be that way in all elections and states, including the final election in Nov.
I like idea shares more accurate data
About time Huckabee quit, he was loser even before the started. He is as useless as cheap toilet paper.
You sound like a non Christian democrat
Great reply
Alicia, I don’t think that’s necessary to call people names; especially when he or anyone else deserves some respect. Sorry you had to state that about ANY candidate; like Trump & others calling people names that was not respectful! I think you could have said it differently & respectfully. I’m not judging your stance on Huckabee, just the language.
hey joy stop your holier than thou bullshit. what she said was ok, this is what u should have a problem with JOY shut the fuck up u bore me
What did Huckabee, ever do to you to deserve such a vicious attack?
RB N TN
Huckabee is not a loser. Just unelectable. Losers treat people badly.
All remaining Repub candidates except the top three should drop out. Their presence obscures the voting. Let us get on the same page with those who have a chance of the nomination.
Well, I’ll tell you one thing, Cruz can’t beat Hillary. She will eat him alive. Trump would be the best chance to beat her at her game.
Only one candidate has debated Clinton – and won: that is, Rick Santorum; Not only has he taken on the senator but, also, the Supreme Court – and won that, too; a whole Decade before anyone knew of Iran’s goal to dominate the Arab world and beyond, he led the fight to place sanctions on its government. His Welfare Reform took many off welfare rolls and put them to work…. Not one of the candidates comes close to his accomplishments and yet, he’s rewarded with 1% in Iowa. Have we become feeble-minded at a time when we are threatened by the growing insanity around us???
Hillary may not be the candidate — for a variety of possible reasons… Who runs better against Bernie?
Trump did not get the votes because he uses PC as an excuse to treat people disrespectfully and slander them. The real majority of Americans are disrespected by Trump.
You are so right. Cruz is great politician, but he does not have Trump “Power”. We need anybody, but Clinton. I had rather have socialist Sanders, than Killery.
Calvin, my thoughts too. Why should we have a bunch of losers getting 0 – 3 % of the positive poll numbers muddying up the waters. Top three IN, the rest OUT.
Guess O’Malley heard about the coin toss early on.
I think Huckabee would have had a chance if he hadn’t back Common Core! O’Malley never had a chance, the race is fixed by the demos for the criminal hillary.
I think our next pr sident might be the criminal lets hope she’s not .
The Caucas was a joke. When I saw a group of men standing around a table with stacks of paper asking each other where does Cruz go, where does Trump go, etc. Then they stacked them by name. The Florida chad scandal broke loose and they at least had voting machines. Then they whisk the papers off to two little old ladies who fill in the totals. I was thinking this is 2016 and this the best way to count? I don’t trust that system not that its for the win but still…. but I don’t trust anything anymore. This country has made me not trust anyone especially the lying deceiving other party!
Who even new they were running?
I totally agree with MainStreet & Linda Abernathy about how voting is done in Iowa. There should be private ballots by machine so pieces of paper don’t magically disappear. The whole body/physical vote is intimidating and not practical. What if someone had to leave for a family emergency or a medical problem sent them to the bathroom during the “stand-off?” Also every state should vote at one primary time. I also have issues with electoral votes, etc. DC still has taxation without representation, too. How do all of these issues exist and America is called a democracy?
Cruz is not American as the constitution states did not give up Canadian citizenship until 18 months ago -Bush spent 158 million got zero – the empire of bush is done- Rubio close but not enough – Clinton won by 0.2 she is losing ( the e-mails killed her)all the rest had no chance . we will see in NH trump will come out ahead Its not over til its over
Read the constitution Cruz is a natural born citizen. Also the Supreme Court also ruled when Obama ran the first time. Knock off the lies and get over your self. Trump may want to lie but you are too smart to be brainwashed like he is doing to people. Start thinking.
Cruz is an American and a Canadian and a Cuban citizen. American from his mother, Cuban from his father and Canadian as his birthplace. His parents also applied for Canadian citizenship. Did his parents register him with the American Embassy in Canada at the time of his birth???? If so why won’t he show this and put these rumors to rest. After all Obama had to, McCain had to. Final point…..he never gave up his Cuban citizenship. BTW the SOTUS have never decided this.
Whole new ballgame this time around.
Go, Donald Trump
O’Malley is young enough that he can try again in future election cycles. I anticipate this is the last chance for Hillary and Bernie due to their age.
Mike Huckabee is discovering what happens when a party has an abundance of competent candidates. He’s still young enough that he can try again in four or eight years.
Wake up and smell the coffee. H Clinton will try until she is tottally dead.
The political process is there to hear of all sides for solutions to the issues. When it becomes a mud slinging process…it is hard to find solutions to problems because they are not being discussed. I thank all of the candidates for putting in their time to try to educate the citizens of America. We truly need a new direction so we can prosper again. The tactics utilized by competing candidates for votes is appalling such as with the Cruz staff telling caucus voters that Carson quit and don’t throw your vote away. Over 95% of the caucuses experienced this. I wonder what the actual tally would have been? Nope this election is not over….you will be seeing some drastic changes in the coming weeks. Voters do your homework and see what the best solutions are for the issues!
as you all should know why they call it the Iowa or new Hampshire caucases as for it the Elections have been rigged from the start if you live in either district or state then you matter but if you are very much like me on the west coast then you and yours basically have gotten the broom so just some food for thought as for now you have heard the rest of the Story GoodDay.