Which Republican really won?

Ted Cruz comes out of Iowa as the man who confounded the pollsters and humbled Donald J. Trump.

“Iowa, we love you. We thank you. You’re special,” Trump said. “We will be back many, many times. In fact, I think I might come back and buy a farm.”

Come on now. It’s a little early to buy the farm, I think. Considering Trump didn’t spend that much time in Iowa, and can’t quote scripture all that well, second place isn’t too bad when you’re trying to win the evangelical vote against the son of a preacher.

Photos: Presidential hopefuls await results of Iowa caucuses

But I don’t see Ted Cruz as the winner, because he’s about to face a different kind of come to Jesus moment in New Hampshire.

And I think Donald Trump is in for a rougher ride because as the other candidates drop out, he has fewer victims to bully, and a lot more time in the debates, which means he’ll have to start giving real answers.

Which leaves Marco Rubio, who came in third but was close enough to Trump to smell his cologne.

And yes he’s only 44, but he’s seems more than OK with that.

“Now the moment has arrived for this generation of Americans to rise up to the calling of our heritage,” Rubio said. “Now the time has come to take our place and do what we must.”

And you know who he’s echoing: John F. Kennedy.

“Let the word go forth … that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans!”

And Kennedy was only 43 when he was elected.