Donald Trump came in second to Sen. Ted Cruz at Monday’s Iowa caucuses — a big disappointment after polls showed him in the lead. So Trump’s reaction, naturally, was to complain on Twitter about the media and voters.
Donald Trump complains about the media and voters after his loss in Iowa
Scott Olson/Getty Images
My experience in Iowa was a great one. I started out with all of the experts saying I couldn't do well there and ended up in 2nd place. Nice
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2016
Because I was told I could not do well in Iowa, I spent very little there - a fraction of Cruz & Rubio. Came in a strong second. Great honor
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2016
The media has not covered my long-shot great finish in Iowa fairly. Brought in record voters and got second highest vote total in history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2016
I will be talking about my wonderful experience in Iowa and the simultaneous unfair treatment by the media-later in New Hampshire. Big crowd
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2016
I don't believe I have been given any credit by the voters for self-funding my campaign, the only one. I will keep doing, but not worth it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2016
Trump is obviously trying to put a positive spin on his second-place finish by arguing that it beat expectations. (As Vox’s Andrew Prokop explained, this is essentially how the Iowa caucuses are evaluated: by who beats or falls under expectations.)
But this is a bit odd for Trump. The expectations game works through recent polling, which showed Trump ahead. So Trump really did disappoint — and many people think his pathetic ground game is to blame.
But most importantly, by Trump’s own admission, second place makes him a loser:
"No one remembers who came in second." - Walter Hagen
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2013
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