Former U.S. President Donald Trump (File photo)
WASHINGTON – Former US President Donald Trump scored a resounding victory in the first Republican presidential nomination contest in Iowa on Monday, cementing his momentum in the race to clinch the ticket for the Nov. 5 general election.
With 93 percent of the vote reported from the lead-off caucus, Trump had secured 51 percent of the vote, trailed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley with 21.2 and 19.1 percent, respectively, according to CNN.
Attention now shifts to the next intraparty contest in New Hampshire on Jan. 23 as Republican contenders are vying to become the GOP (Grand Old Party) flag bearer in the November showdown, where incumbent President Joe Biden is expected to represent the Democratic Party.
After winning the Iowa caucuses, Trump issued a message of unity, calling for everybody to "come together."
"Whether it's Republican or Democrat, or liberal or conservative, it would be so nice if we could come together and straighten out the world and straighten out problems and straighten out all of the death and destruction that we are witnessing," he said.
Under the slogan of "Make America Great Again" (MAGA), the former president has maintained a comfortable lead in various polls, which has thrown into sharp relief a heated battle for second place between Haley and DeSantis.
The next contest in New Hampshire is expected to be a crucial test of support for Haley as her campaign has been gathering steam in the state in part because of support from independents. (Yonhap)
