This event is especially important coming off a Donald Trump landslide victory in New Hampshire, following a surprise Ted Cruz victory in the Iowa caucuses a week before.
Advertisement
The Republican field is down to just six contenders for tonight’s GOP presidential debate in Greenville where Marco Rubio needs to right his ship after a New Hampshire fail. Several candidates embraced the chaos as they felt out the best strategies to survive SC and advance into a grueling March primary schedule, when 58 percent of the party’s delegate total will be at stake.
Friday morning, Trump went further, questioning “how can Ted Cruz be an Evangelical Christian when he lies so much and is so dishonest?”
Saturday night’s debate in SC (8 p.m., Chicago time on CBS 2) could get heated, if social media is any indication. Cruz released a television advertisement before the debate accusing the real estate mogul of a “pattern of sleaze”, spurring Trump to fire back on Twitter with another round of questions about his Canadian-born rival’s eligibility to be president.
“I think more and more this is becoming a two man race between me and Donald Trump”, Cruz explained.
The pressure is particularly intense Saturday for Rubio, who was rattled by former rival Chris Christie during a memorable moment at the last debate in New Hampshire.
“President Bush has been incredibly supportive of his brother’s campaign and Governor Bush is excited to have him out on the trail”, said Kristy Campbell, a spokeswoman with the Jeb Bush campaign, via email. Bush in particular will need a solid showing in SC, given his prominent political family’s ties to the state, while Kasich is just hoping to remain viable until the race heads to friendly territory for the Midwestern governor.
Advertisement
A second new ad promises a whirlwind of activity in the first 100 days of a Kasich presidency – “no excuses, no surrender”, says a narrator with a hint of a Southern accent. “After the church bells ring on Sunday, people are going to start paying a lot of attention”. Rand Paul, to end their campaigns. George W. Bush, who is slated to campaign for his brother on Monday, left the White House in January 2009 with low approval ratings.
