Cruz, Rubio In Fight for Survival Against Trump

Cruz on Saturday characterized a two-man contest as well – between him and Trump, but Rubio has repeatedly pushed the notion of a three-man race since the SC primary.

Cruz came in third with a razor-sharp finish behind Marco Rubio.

Many donors are nervous about nominating either Trump, who notched massive wins in New Hampshire and SC, or Texas Sen.

McCarthy noted Trump’s two primary wins are “setting in” for the GOP. If his name were anything other than “Donald Trump”, the party’s leaders would be penciling him in for the final speaking spot at their convention in Cleveland. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, walks on stage during an election-night rally Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Columbia, S.C.

Trump hailed his SC victory as “an incredible movement with incredible people”. Rubio, a USA senator from Florida, is very popular in the state’s most populous areas, and an endorsement from an on-the-ropes John Kasich could make all the difference in OH, where he is governor.

“There are going to be a lot of circumstances where we can declare some victories and at least get this thing to March 15, ” Rich Beeson, a senior Rubio aide told the Associated Press.

For now, Trump and Clinton will savor their victories.

Jeb Bush’s lackluster campaign was his downfall.

“To me, the only logical one is either Kasich or Rubio”, Al Hoffman, former finance chairman for the Republican National Committee, told USA Today. He said 58 percent of African-American youth are unemployed and he feels sad about their situation.

On the Republican side, Donald Trump is looking for support in Atlanta on Sunday.

Cruz now faces fights on two fronts – a reinvigorated Rubio and Trump.

These rounds could be crucial in particular for Republican candidates who have been lagging behind the leading pair. Republicans are holding party caucuses there on Tuesday. If Sanders had hoped to parlay momentum from his razor-thin loss in Iowa and blowout in New Hampshire, then Clinton may well have blunted his push.

Both results will be key ahead of the “Super Tuesday” round on 1 March, when a dozen more states make their choice.

Ms Clinton defeated rival Bernie Sanders in the Nevada Democratic caucuses on Saturday, but their duel looks set to last, with the former secretary of state’s campaign showing some weaknesses, especially among young voters.