It started what feels like years ago.

Over summer, it became a game: let’s see who is declaring today.

In winter, it became a battle: who will come out as the survivors?

The Iowa Caucuses have spoken, and the results are as surprising as they are nerve-wracking, on both sides of the party.

While Donald Trump has been polling at high numbers, the past few weeks Ted Cruz had been hot on his heels. Attack ads came out, sharp barbs spoken, and at the end of it all, with 28%, Cruz pulled ahead.

Interestingly enough, however, although Trump would end with 24%, Rubio would be right behind him, declaring victory with 23%. He was the dark horse in this race; while everyone was focused on the top two, he managed to grab a high percentage of the vote, and is now headed to New Hampshire with his head held high.

On the opposite side, the vote would end up by the skin of the candidates teeth. A year ago, everyone expected Hilary Clinton to have an easy win; no one thought Bernie Sanders would take on such a popularity, and become quite the challenge. When the dust settled, it was ___ who won, but it was a lesson to be learned; do not count out the other, because, if this race showed one thing, anything could happen.

So Sanders wins the young vote, Clinton the moderates, Cruz the conservatives, and Rubio, well, those who weren’t sure either way.

There’s still much of a race to go through, and things can change at the drop of a hat. The Northeast is a different place than the Midwest; will the votes hold up?

I don’t pretend to know that answer. Although people say the way you identify is the way you tend to view the race, I disagree. As an avid follower of politics, I look at it objectively, listening to their messages, and seeing how it corresponds with their parties, their platforms.

Apparently, Iowa decided to do the same.

Either way, I never put much stock in the presidential race. It is Congress who really puts forth policies; if there are problems in Washington, it is less to do with any one administration, and more with an inability of our elected leaders to get along, something kindergarteners struggle to do.

So, with this first part done, let’s see what else will happen as the rest will be unfolded. Will a woman be president at the end of it all? Or a man whose last name has a Latin flare? Will the reality TV star pull through, or will the socialist put a new spin on a word often tied to negative connotations?

Let us wait and see.

For now, I withhold any judgment on all the candidates, as there is much that has yet to be seen. Perhaps there is a hidden ace up all of their sleeves, one that will appear at only the right moment, because I doubt this is the end of their fiery opinions.

Democrat, Republican, Independent, or any other party affiliation, if Iowa is any indication, the battle may have been won, but the war will still go on.