Bernie Sanders had a terrific night in Iowa. While Hillary Clinton edged him out by a paper-thin margin, voter-wise Sanders can claim to have just about managed a statistical tie. When you consider where he was just six months or so ago, to have risen to a position of being equals with one of the most powerful, heavily endorsed and well-financed candidates in American politics is a laudable feat. There’s an argument to be made that even a virtual tie with Clinton is a win for Sanders because he defied expectations and showed that he has some real political authority moving forward. But if you take a step back and look at the numbers coming out of the places both campaigns eventually end up, last night’s impressive showing — and the win Sanders should likely chalk up in New Hampshire next week — will lead to a pretty short-lived victory party. To make any difference in his future, Bernie needed to win last night — and win big. It was always a tall order, but it was essential.