Yes Howard County is in Iowa. But he wasn't that close to it. What you did see in Iowa was a lot of Sanders supporters who chose not to vote for Clinton and some even voted for Trump. Which is what the article described. But stagnant wages played a lot into the voting.
My church is one of the polling places in a solid Trump territory at the time. I was at church on election night for a meeting. People were bringing their kids in with them, I overheard them tell their kids this was an important election. One must vote for America (which I interpreted to be MAGA statement). The area around my church is a poverty area and one where there is a Hispanic population. We had a Hispanic ministry (now independent church) at the time. There was a belief that the Hispanic population were taking their jobs (although those complaining didn't want to work in areas like housekeeping jobs in the casinos or packing plant). So building a wall spoke to them.
My church is one of the polling places in a solid Trump territory at the time. I was at church on election night for a meeting. People were bringing their kids in with them, I overheard them tell their kids this was an important election. One must vote for America (which I interpreted to be MAGA statement). The area around my church is a poverty area and one where there is a Hispanic population. We had a Hispanic ministry (now independent church) at the time. There was a belief that the Hispanic population were taking their jobs (although those complaining didn't want to work in areas like housekeeping jobs in the casinos or packing plant). So building a wall spoke to them.
I guess that makes Nikki Haley a genius at sucking-up to Trumpster. 
Thus, the international community is awaiting with some trepidation to see who will be replacing Haley at the U.N.
There are so many in the Trump swamp who are standing in line to 'take the l'orange cake' lick it and eat it too way ahead of good 'ol smart gal Nik. Sometimes it pays to take a breather from going off and raising the temperature level on every distracting, sad and offensive thing that's happening with this administration. The really serious deadly stuff they are doing and getting away with, that will have dire long-term impacts, often floats underneath the radar. Don't forget that this is the reality tv show Celeb-presidency, with sound and fury, numbskull cheap thrills, sideshows, and death defying tricks and twists that are scarier than a Ringling Bros/Barnum & Bailey extravaganza extraordinaire. Pull back a bit and gain some perspective.
You gotta laugh sometimes and take a breather from the madness, and/ or actively get involved in doing something productive in your own life, your own community and your own family that's within your sphere of influence. Find a safe space among people who understand you and who can hear you and who are willing to actively engage in intelligent dialogue, not endless griping and OTT arguing. Take a risk on doing something you believe in, something that gives you hope, meaning and perspective.
instead.