UPDATE:Florida Gov.
Ron DeSantis will finish a distant second place in the Iowa caucuses, networks projected late Monday night.
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley had hopes of a No.
Donald Trump at the Horizon Event Center in Clive, IowaKevin Dietsch/Getty Images
2 finish as she eyed pulling off a surprise next week in New Hampshire.
The media was against us.
They were writing our obituary months ago.
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She said that in New Hampshire, the question will be very clear.
Do you want more of the same, or do you want a new generation of conservative leaders?
The Iowa results were extra sweet for Trump.
Republican strategist Mike Murphy wrote on Twitter, Trump could not have gotten a better night out of Iowa.
He wins big, his most lethal opponent gets squelched into third place, damping her momentum.
He also put some focus on Joe Biden, his likely opponent if he wins the nomination.
It is not a decision that we relish.
That is a fundamental truth of our business.
PREVIOUSLY:The turnout at the Iowa Republican caucuses was far below the last competitive race eight years ago.
That compares to 186,000 who participated in 2016.
… Theyre Americans who show up to help with democracy.
If it is in a blue state they do it differently.
It is just not true historically.
There is zero evidence of that.
The media is in the tank for Trump and this is the most egregious example yet.
Early returns show a tight race for that ranking.
According to a online grid source, there was enough information even at 8 p.m.
Many of the caucuses were already over by 8:30 p.m.
ET and the Iowa GOP already was reporting results, the source noted.
The networks and the AP have in the past projected Iowa winners at 8 p.m.
ET when the polls shows that there would be an overwhelming winner, the source said.
On Fox News, anchor Bret Baier defended their projection and explained why the call was made so early.
Once that was overwhelming on the analysis of that, we could make the call.
So that is how that develops that early.
Again, theres a lot of controversy around it because people were inside and obviously had their phones.
But that is how the rules go for Iowa.
Fox News Brit Hume doubted that the early call had an impact.
If they had known ahead then they may decide to not even bother.
I dont think so.
The impact of it seems that the premise is doubtful.
NewsNation did not call the race for Trump until 8:46 p.m.
However, it is not about who wins.
That would have been a shocker if it were going any other way.
Its about, what is the margin?
Cuomo said that the margins will matter.
And theres a lot of caucusing yet to be done.
At least the counting part and thats the part that matters.
The race was called just over 30 minutes after the caucuses started.
CNN called the caucus for Trump at around 8:31 p.m.
ET, followed by Fox News and MSNBC.
The Associated Press also called the race.
This is the earliest I can ever remember calling such a thing, CNN anchor Jake Tapper said.
Dana Bash was joined by Kasie Hunt and Chris Wallace at the site to offer analysis.
DeSantis battle over the leftovers.
NBC News had a special report on the results shortly after 8:30 p.m.
