(AP Photo/John Locher). Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, left, greets supporters with her husband and former President Bill Clinton at a Nevada Democratic caucus rally, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Las Vegas. Among those who prefer the next president to come from outside the political establishment, 63 percent voted for Trump, whereas those who prefer political experience split their vote between Marco Rubio (38 percent) and Ted Cruz (29 percent). At the moment this is looking unlikely.
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Jeb Bush edges John Kasich for fourth place (8.3% to 7.6%) with Ben Carson bringing up the rear at 6.6% of the vote. As things stand he has little chance of winning the nomination, but he is hanging in there. In New Hampshire (NH), the electorate was relatively moderate, but in SC exit polls showed that evangelicals made up 72% of the electorate.
The Florida senator tells CBS’ “Face the Nation” that the choice for Republicans is becoming “clearer and clearer” now that rival Jeb Bush is out of the race.
“Today I am suspending my campaign”, an emotional Mr Bush told his supporters.
Meanwhile, Mr Cruz said he was best positioned to challenge Mr Trump after his previous win over the billionaire businessman in Iowa.
After a strong showing in South Carolina, Marco Rubio says, “After tonight, this has become a three person race and we will win the nomination”.
The 63-year-old’s fourth-place finish was the final straw, after poor results in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
“I firmly believe the American people must entrust this office to someone who understands that whoever holds it is a servant not the master”.
As SC is victor takes all by Congressional District and statewide, Trump’s victory means he will take at least 47 of SC’s 50 delegates, and possibly all 50.
SC was the death knell for Bush. The Florida senator may have also been helped by the recent endorsement of South Carolina’s popular governor, Nikki Haley. “Now it looks like a possible win”, Mr Trump tweeted shortly before the television networks declared him the victor.
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Next for the candidates are caucuses Tuesday in Nevada, where Hillary Clinton won the Democratic caucuses on Saturday, and a string of Southern primaries on March 1.
