Trump projected to win Nevada GOP caucus

As early returns came in, CNN and Fox News had Rubio in second place with about 25 percent of the vote and Cruz in third place with about 22 percent.

Entrance polls in Nevada captured the sentiment propelling Trump’s insurgent campaign: Six in 10 caucus goers said they were angry with the way the government is working, and Trump got about half of them.

“If you listen to the pundits, we weren’t expected to win too much, and now we’re winning, winning, winning the country”, Mr Trump said at a victory rally in Las Vegas. That’s fewer white evangelicals than this year’s Iowa caucus and sc primary, but the largest portion above 65 of any Republican test yet.

Trump had been favored to win in Nevada on Tuesday, where his name is prominently displayed on his Las Vegas hotel building and he’s led in support among likely caucusgoers for weeks. “And soon the country will start winning, winning, winning”, Trump said.

After Trump’s loss in the opening nominating contest in Iowa to Cruz, Republican figures were anticipating that the billionaire’s insurgent candidacy was stalled.

Marco Rubio and Texas Sen.

“What’s so daunting about the challenge of beating Trump now is that his opponents no longer have the luxury of taking him on in just one state”, said Kevin Madden, a veteran GOP strategist. Ted Cruz at third place with 21.4 percent (five delegates), Dr. Ben Carson at fourth with 4.8 percent (zero delegate), and Gov. John Kasich at fifth place with 3.6 percent (zero delegate).

It was Trump’s first victory in a caucus state, significant because he defies traditional campaigning methods and relies on speeches to huge crowds and dominating the airwaves. Trump won again, drawing further ahead in the delegate race. His big win in the last state before Super Tuesday doesn’t bode well.

With three consecutive victories under his belt, Mr. Trump heads into Super Tuesday on March 1 – when 11 states will have their primaries or caucuses – that could irreversibly set the course of the nomination process.

Donald Trump predicts he’ll pick up enough delegates to take the Republican nomination for President before the party’s convention in July. But he still hasn’t won a single state. The Nevada Republican party said on Twitter that there have been “no official reports of voting irregularities or violations”. Rubio and Cruz both headed for Texas. The wins are a testament to his broad appeal among the “mad-as-hell” voters making their voices heard in the 2016 presidential race.