Like it or not, Donald Trump is in the driver’s seat for the Republican presidential nomination.
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A poor result for any of the lower tier Republican candidates could force them out of the Republican field, which will face their own caucuses in Nevada on Tuesday.
Sen. Marco Rubio speaks at a rally in Greenville, South Carolina, on February 18, 2016.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to students at Del Sol High School, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016, in Las Vegas.
All the candidates are preparing for those future contests, including caucuses Tuesday in Nevada, and a string of Southern primaries on March 1.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) – Hillary Clinton pulled out a crucial victory in Nevada’s Democratic presidential caucuses Saturday, overcoming an unexpectedly strong surge by Bernie Sanders and easing the rising anxiety of her supporters. – Mary Moore, 60, in Las Vegas, on why she’s supporting Clinton.
Mr Trump is banking on a big symbolic win ahead of “Super Tuesday” – March 1, when about a dozen states will go to the polls, with a quarter of the nominating delegates up for grabs.
In the last debate before the SC primary, Trump did what most conservatives believed would be his death knell.
“I will win this election”, Rubio told supporters, an argument reminiscent of one put forth by supporters of Republican candidate Mitt Romney in 2012.
While the billionaire businessman scored a decisive win in New Hampshire, his second-place finish in Iowa to Texas Sen. “It’s tough, it’s nasty, it’s mean, it’s vicious. When you win, it is attractive”.
Pressure is mounting from donors and the party establishment for also-rans to drop out, so that the party brass can rally around a more mainstream candidate who could defeat Trump and firebrand conservative Ted Cruz. Marco Rubio competed fiercely for second, outdistancing opponents whose rationale for staying in the race came starkly into question. About two-thirds of Nevada caucus-goers were at least 45. But Trump moderated his criticism, noting that what the Pope said was more equivocal.
He is talking to voters about health care and getting big money out of politics. The public mood has upended the usual political order, leaving more traditional candidates scrambling to find their footing. And, following his risky attack on Former President George W. Bush’s handling of terrorism and the Iraq war, Trump’s win provides more evidence that he can take positions that would undermine virtually any other politician. Underscoring the electorate’s frustration with Washington, he was backed by almost 4 in 10 of those who were angry at the federal government, and a third of those who felt betrayed by politicians in the Republican Party.
■Ted Cruz has taken time away from campaigning in SC to attend the funeral Mass in Washington for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
Ted Cruz hopes his get-out-the-vote operation and lots of volunteers can help overtake Trump in SC. He has won the latter two by overwhelming pluralities. Though Bush was once considered a well-funded front-runner for the GOP nomination, new fundraising reports out Saturday showed that donations to his super PAC had largely stalled.
Kasich left SC well before the votes were counted, deploying a more northern strategy where his moderate brand may play better. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson trailed.
The crowded Republican contest was a contrast to the head-to-head face-off among Democrats. Four in 10 wanted someone more liberal than Obama, and they broke for the more liberal candidate, Sanders.
South Carolina Republicans will cast their votes Saturday in the nation’s first-in-the-South primary, with polls closing at 7 p.m.
For Democrats, the contest between Clinton and Sanders has grown closer than nearly anyone expected. Sanders did best with men, voters under 45 and those less affluent and educated.
According to the early entrance polls, Clinton captured the support of voters for whom electability and experience were of paramount importance.
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Sanders congratulated Clinton, but also said he was proud of having significantly narrowed the gap.
