GOP candidates chart different paths as Super Tuesday nears

Republican presidential candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are locked in a battle to become their party’s alternative to NY billionaire Donald Trump in Nevada’s caucus.

“The prudent thing to do is to support our senator, our hometown guy but, it comes with a heavy heart, ” said Rep. Jose Oliva, R-Miami, who was among those from the Miami-Dade Republican delegation who campaigned for Bush in New Hampshire. Years ago, Trump said he strongly supported abortion rights in the United States, but now tells voters he is pro-life, favoring a curb on the right of American women to the medical procedure. Mr. Rubio was at 21 percent and Sen.

The result was a shock to Mr Cruz’s backers – SC should have played to his strengths, with his campaign tailored to appeal to the state’s large number of evangelical voters.

No Republican candidate for President has swept all of the Super Tuesday contests since Bob Dole in 1996. “I see it more as Trump- Rubio”.

Mr Trump won easy victories in the previous two states to vote, SC and New Hampshire.

In the 2012 Republican contest, officials took several days to count just 33,000 ballots. Rubio edged out Cruz by a hairs-breadth, receiving 22.5% of the votes compared to Cruz’s 22.3%.

“There are going to be a lot of circumstances where we can declare some victories and at least get this thing to March 15”, Beeson said. Known as “Super Tuesday”, a day looming as a crucial test of whether Trump will continue his once-unthinkable march to the nomination or will face a stiffer challenge from a discarded field as 11 states will hold Republican primaries or caucuses. In a recent CNN/ORC poll, Trump has 45% support from Republican Nevada caucus-goers, Rubio is in second with 19% and Cruz rounds out the top three with 17%. Donald Trump led in Alabama, Alaska, Oklahoma and Virginia.

The decision by Jeb Bush – the quintessential “Republican establishment” figure in the race – to suspend his campaign after another weak showing on Saturday provided encouragement for Rubio. Trump, who captured 32.5 percent of the vote on Saturday compared to Bush’s 7.9 percent, spent $64 per vote.

Marco Rubio’s cheerleaders expect Bush’s exit to bring their candidate some big donations and endorsements – but what he needs is votes.

“In upstate NY I am the most popular person that has ever lived, virtually”, he added. And he ran strongly enough among college-educated voters to prevent either Cruz or Rubio from seriously threatening him.