Jeb Bush ends his presidential bid

Seeking to recast a disappointing result here, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas moved quickly to a preview of his likely argument going forward.

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with his daughter Ivanka and his wife Melania at his sides at his victory rally in Spartanburg, S.C. on Saturday. Ted Cruz of Texas, drawing a wave of groans that Trump tried to calm.

“They did quite well as I understand it”, said Trump.

Jeb Bush today quit the Republican presidential race following a series of dismal performances in the primaries, as the Bush family’s dream of an unprecedented third stint at the White House was shattered after he came a distant fourth in SC. “We see conservatives continuing to unite behind our campaign”, he told NBC’s “Meet the Press”.

When Trump jumped into the race eight months ago, most Republican leaders dismissed the real estate mogul, insisting the die-hards packing his amped-up rallies were fans, not real voters.

In the Iowa caucuses on February 1, which kicked off the 2016 presidential cycle for the November polls, Jeb was placed sixth with an abysmally low 2.8 per cent votes.

With Bush’s departure, there are five candidates remaining with one more race before Super Tuesday on March 1.

Clinton celebrated her Nevada triumph but acknowledged she has work to do in persuading voters that she has their best interests at heart. “On the other issues, it suggests that he is more shrewd than people thinking, making statements taking on controversial figures that earn him broader support than the pundits expect”.

“This is a special state”, Trump said. “We are the only campaign that has beaten – and can beat – Donald Trump”.

Once each state has voted in the primaries or caucuses, the delegates won by each party candidate will go on to endorse them at party conventions in July.

Meanwhile, Kasich and Carson both said they are ready to look past SC. Not only did the NY businessman win a Southern state, his victory helped drive rival Jeb Bush out of the Republican race for president.

“The people of Iowa and New Hampshire and SC have spoken and I really respect their decision”, Bush said after dropping out.

“It’s tough, it’s nasty, it’s mean, it’s vicious”, Trump said of the campaign. “It’s attractive – when you win it’s handsome”.

Trump’s victory was vindication for political mavericks whose hunger for an outsider has defined this year’s campaign.

Two other Republican candidates who finished low in South Carolina – Ohio Gov. John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson – vowed to stay in the race.

Following a week that marked the threat of a lawsuit, an attack on former President George W. Bush and a slam from Pope Francis, Trump told supporters Saturday night, “When you win, it’s handsome”. With 99 percent of the vote counted, he had 32.5 percent, putting him about 10 percentage points ahead of Rubio and Cruz.