I’m seeing lots of people on Twitter attacking Biden’s team for seeming to raise broader questions about how seriously the Iowa results should be taken, considering all of the challenges in getting the vote count completed, and attacking Buttigieg for saying last night, “By all indications, we are going on to New Hampshire victorious.” I don’t see much problem with either comment. I don’t view either of them as really damaging the legitimacy of this process. If, say, Sanders is declared the winner, I don’t expect Buttigieg to go around claiming that he really won, not Sanders. Also, those statements have some truth to them. If Buttigieg finishes second/and or ahead of Biden — which is possible — that is a kind of victory, even if Buttigieg perhaps should have phrased his statement more carefully. And I have some questions about the Iowa results myself, so I understand Biden’s team raising questions, even if that has an element of self-interest. (It seems like Biden didn’t do well last night and he might want Iowa’s results downplayed a bit.)
