"Just in case you haven't been glued to your phone the last few minutes, I want you to hear something from me," Buttigieg told supporters after taking the stage in Laconia.

"A little later than we anticipated, but better late than never, official verified caucus results are coming in from the state of Iowa," he continued. "They're not complete, but results are in from a majority of precincts, and they show our campaign in first place."

Buttigieg went on to promote his presidential bid's themes of national unity and to reflect upon the degree to which his campaign had ballooned since he launched his White House run early last year.

"It validates the idea that we can expand a coalition not only unified around who it is we're against, but around what it is that we're for," he said of the preliminary outcome in Iowa, before briefly choking up.

"And it validates for a kid somewhere in a community, wondering if he belongs or she belongs or they belong in their own family," he continued, "that if you believe in yourself and your country, there's a lot backing up that belief."

Buttigieg is the first openly gay major presidential contender, and has previously spoken about the positive effects of his candidacy on young people struggling to come to terms with their identities.

His raw reaction to the latest Iowa developments followed an intense day of jostling between his and Sanders' campaigns, with both candidates seeking to project triumph after the caucus verdict was substantially delayed by a technical meltdown.