That bodes well for her in Saturday’s Democratic primary in SC and on so-called Super Tuesday next week, when primaries are held in several southern states where African-Americans make up a large part of the Democratic electorate. During his victory speech Saturday, Trump did not mention or offer any good wishes for Bush. He has won the latter two by overwhelming pluralities. His supporters erupted in a roar when CNN called the contest in his favour – his second win of the nominations race after New Hampshire and an important test of the strength of his bid to succeed President Barack Obama. “I think everyone now acknowledges that’s me”, he said.
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Celebrating his win Trump showed an uncharacteristically gentler side to himself when accepting his victory. Nevada doesn’t have a lot of experience running caucuses, having picked up its first-in-the-West status in 2008. Asked if his attacks on immigrants and Muslims may have alienated too many people, he said he would attract “many many Democrats” and independents.
“This is a tough business”, Trump told ABC’s This Week.
The real-estate mogul easily won the Palmetto state primary while Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio battled it out for every vote in second place. After more than $100 million spent on his behalf, just 94,411 people voted for him in all of the three states he contested.
Rubio’s campaign manager, Terry Sullivan, recently told The Associated Press, “I would be surprised if it’s not May or the convention” when the party settles on its nominee.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a South Carolina Republican primary night event in Spartanburg, S.C., Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.
“I think we’re going to do very well”, said Trump, the unquestioned Republican front-runner after a comfortable win in SC, 11 days after an easy victory in New Hampshire.
Now that Jeb Bush has withdrawn from the race, the hopes of the establishment are concentrated on Marco Rubio. Trump successfully survived the Texan’s attempts to paint him as a liberal.
Cruz dismissed the idea that he underperformed in SC, a state with a strong religious and evangelical population – both attributes that should favor him.
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And if there are differences between me and Donald Trump on policy, as I’m sure there are, we are going to be talking about those. “That’s why advantage goes to Trump and momentum happens”. We can not lose this election.
