Trump projected victor in SC, 2nd place still undecided

After months of lagging poll numbers and failing to place in the top tier in the SC primary that Donald Trump is projected to win, Jeb Bush said a tearful goodbye to the presidential race Saturday night.

Trump’s win could answer some of those questions, adding momentum going into the collection of Southern states that will vote March 1, giving him the chance to build an even bigger lead in the delegate count that will determine the nomination.

Jeb Bush is ending his campaign for president after a disappointing showing in the SC primary.

Clinton’s victory came as a relief to her campaign, particularly after her blowout loss to Sanders in the previous New Hampshire contest.

“The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and SC have spoken and I really respect their decision”. Nevada Republicans will caucus on Tuesday, Feb. 23, and South Carolina’s Democratic presidential primary is Saturday, Feb. 27.

At stake in SC are 50 of the 1,237 delegates needed to win the Republican nomination.

Sanders gained solid support from Hispanic voters in Nevada, but Clinton held on to African American voters, in addition to older voters and Democrats (as opposed to Independents or Republicans who caucused). Bush placed fourth place in New Hampshire and sixth in Iowa before that.

Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks with his daughter Ivanka (L) and his wife Melania (R) at his sides at his 2016 South Carolina presidential primary night victory rally in Spartanburg, South Carolina February 20, 2016. Ted Cruz running neck-and-neck for second place.

Another contender, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, performed poorly in SC but has hopes of winning in MI and his home state of Ohio. As of Saturday morning, Cruz had registered 23 percent of the state’s Republican voters’ support against Trump’s 28 percent, the New York Times reported.

Bush’s final Palmetto State push included a much anticipated campaign appearance by his brother, former President George W. Bush, but ultimately the elder Bush’s popularity didn’t transfer. It has a mixture of conservative and evangelical voters, particularly in the northwest of the state, and an influential bloc of retired military veterans who hanker for a tough message on national security, with more moderate Republicans on the Atlantic coast where cities have swelled with migrants from northern states.

Bush is in position to finish third in SC, according to the latest NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist poll.

Rubio scored the endorsements of several prominent SC politicians, including Gov. Nikki Haley, and seemed to have rebounded after a dismal debate performance two weeks ago. The former Florida governor has leaned heavily on his family connections to carry him in the state, bringing in his brother, former President George W. Bush, and his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, this week to campaign for him.