Trump has fewer chances to win after primaries in Iowa as Republicans opt for responsible vote - Kosachev
MOSCOW. Feb 2 (Interfax) - Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the Federation Council's committee on international affairs, believes there could be a change in the leader, in the course of the 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries in the U.S.
"I believe that Mister Trump' s chances to receive support from the Republican Party voters participating in the primaries are, in fact, much fewer," Kosachev told Interfax on Tuesday.
"The primaries in Iowa begin to sort everything out. I believe that these tendencies, in what concerns the Republican Party, will only get confirmed and consolidated during the oncoming primaries in other states," he added.
Kosachev pointed out that the results of the Iowa primaries have demonstrated that the popular support of Donald Trump is not absolute. In the Russian senator's view, this candidate enjoyed a warm welcome when delivering his pre-election speeches, thanks to his "revolutionary views and ideas", but when it came to actual voting, voters opted to exercise their right to vote in a more responsible way, he said.
Texas senator Ted Cruz has won the Republican Party presidential primaries in the state of Iowa.
With 98% of votes counted, he has won the support of 27.7% of voters and Trump falls behind him with 24.4%.
As for the Democratic Party, the trend that Hillary Clinton's leadership is foregone and unambiguous has been confirmed, Kosachev said.
"There is a very serious struggle ahead in every state and the outcome of this struggle is impossible to predict," he added.
Kosachev also remarked that he thinks that Clinton's chances to celebrate a victory are better. In particular, due to the age factor, he said.
"If Mister Sanders wins these primaries and then the presidential race, he will become the oldest president in the history of the United States. I believe that this factor is serious enough, and it will not help, but inhibit him, in the course of the election campaign," Kosachev said.
"Nevertheless, the chances are still, approximately equal, and we will have a very interesting encounter of tantamount, equivalent contenders to watch," he concluded.
With 94% of votes counted following the Democratic Party caucuses, Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton wins 50.2%, while Vermont senator Bernie Sanders gets 49.3% of the vote.