Yes, this really happened: Donald Trump has actually won a presidential primary.
New Hampshire was a big test for the businessman, who previously lost to Ted Cruz in the Iowa caucuses. But on Tuesday it was a different story as he overcame four more mainstream GOP candidates- Bush, Kasich, Rubio, and Christie, and dealt a severe blow to the Republican establishment.
Kasich also won a huge battle for the second-place spot, giving him well-needed momentum going into the next primary. Cruz and Bush were battling for third place into the evening.
Trump began his rambling victory speech with: “Wow! Wow. Wow. Wow.” He thanked his deceased parents, brother, family, staff, other candidates, and the state of New Hampshire.
Trump then continued to criticize his Democrat rival Bernie Sanders when he said: “He wants to give away our country, we’re not going to let it happen,” he said of the Vermont senator. “We wish him a lot of luck but we’re going to make America great again and we’re going to do it the old-fashioned way.”
The speech resumed with a series of forceful talking points, including: trade deals, bolstering the military, building an “incredible” wall on the border, and repealing and replacing Obamacare. “I am going to be the best jobs president that God ever created.” “The world is going to respect us again, believe me,” he told the crowd while flanked by his wife and family.
Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton on the Democratic side of things, handing the Vermont senator a huge boost after the two essentially played to a tie in the Iowa caucuses last week.
New Hampshire was a long-expected win for Sanders. He led in the polls for months and is received well by white liberal voters. He will have a tough road ahead, though: Clinton is expected to do well in the more diverse contests in states that have larger cities, such as the upcoming South Carolina primary on Feb. 27.
Sanders enjoyed his minutes of fame when he delivered a long and impassioned speech at his victory party, touching on his signature issues of income inequality and campaign finance reform. The local crowd loved it, cheering loudly at every applause line.
“We have sent a message that will echo from Wall Street to Washington,” he said. “The government of our great country belongs to all of the people and not just a handful of wealthy campaign contributions and their super PACs.”
