Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Tuesday that after two very different experiences in the Iowa caucuses, she very much preferred winning there.
“I’ve won there and I’ve lost there. It’s a lot better to win,” Clinton told a packed gymnasium in Nashua, New Hampshire, referring to her third-place finish in the Hawkeye State during her first presidential campaign in 2008.
Clinton’s remarks came roughly at the same time the Iowa Democratic Party officially declared her the victor in the Iowa caucuses. Clinton’s campaign had been making the claim since the wee hours of the morning, even though not all precincts had reported and the race was still tight.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the Sanders campaign was “still assessing” whether to ask for a recount.
Clinton, like most other presidential candidates were doing, turned to the New Hampshire primary.
“I am so grateful for all of you, every single one of you who are here this morning to kick off this last phase of the primary campaign here at New Hampshire. As you know, my husband and I are pretty fond of this state,” she said.
New Hampshire holds special significance for both Clinton and her husband, Bill Clinton, who earned his nickname “The Comeback Kid” after a second-place finish in 1992. Clinton’s own Granite State moment came with her 2008 victory over eventual nominee Barack Obama there.
