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| Rubio endorsed by South Carolina's Nikki Haley ahead of state primary – live | Rubio endorsed by South Carolina's Nikki Haley ahead of state primary – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 10.09pm GMT | |
| 22:09 | |
| Ted Cruz tops Donald Trump in new national poll | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| Donald Trump’s improbable seven-month ride atop national polls of likely Republican voters may finally be slipping: In a national poll conducted by NBC and the Wall Street Journal, the billionaire businessman has lost his national lead, slipping behind senator Ted Cruz of Texas in a poll released justthisminute. | |
| Cruz leads with 28% support nationwide among Republican voters, beating Trump’s 26% by two percentage points. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida follows in third place with 17%, trailed by followed by Ohio governor John Kasich’s 11%, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson’s 10% and former Florida governor Jeb(!) Bush’s 4%. | |
| In the last iteration of the poll, Trump topped Cruz by 13%, 33% to 20%. But this latest poll, conducted between Sunday and Tuesday, comes after Cruz beat Trump in the Iowa caucuses, and after Trump’s universally panned performance in last weekend’s debate in South Carolina, in which he attacked former president George W. Bush over the September 11 terrorist attacks and the invasion of Iraq. | |
| The four latest polls of Palmetto State Republicans - all conducted after the debate - show Trump with an average lead of 17.5 percentage points over Cruz. | |
| In two other national surveys released today, Trump leads the GOP field by 15 and 20 percentage points, making the NBC/Wall Street Journal numbers a major outlier. | |
| 9.43pm GMT | |
| 21:43 | |
| Lauren Gambino | |
| At a rally at the Parkway Ballroom in Chicago, Hillary Clinton promised to push for stricter gun laws and better law enforcement practices, saying the country owes it to the “mothers of the movement”, who have lost children to gun violence and police killings. | |
| Clinton began by invoking the names of Sandra Bland, a black woman who was found dead in her jail cell following a traffic stop in Texas last summer, and Laquan McDonald, a young black man who was shot by a Chicago police officer in 2014. While Clinton spoke, Bland’s family nodded in agreement behind her. | |
| “These stories cannot be ones that just provoke our emotions,” Clinton said. “They must move us to action. They must motivate every one of us to take on these issues reforming police practices and making it as hard as possible for people to get guns who shouldn’t have them in the first place.” | |
| At the start of the rally, Bland’s mother, Geneva Reed-Veal, joined by her daughters and husband, recited a poem she wrote about Clinton, a woman she described as having the “staying power” even after 20 years in politics. | |
| “Now is the time and this is place / Now we are ready and Hillary is the face,” Reed-Veal began. | |
| When she spoke about her daughter, Reed Veal began to tear up. Clinton reached out, and Reed-Veal finished her introduction. | |
| Clinton has won the support of a coalition of mothers whose children were victims of gun violence, including Gwen Carr, mother of Eric Garner; Maria Hamilton, mother of Dontre Hamilton; and Lucy McBath, mother of Jordan Davis; are planning to campaign for Clinton. | |
| During Clinton’s remarks, which echoed a speech she gave in Harlem on Tuesday, she also took the opportunity to criticize Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, especially over his relationship with the president who remains wildly popular among Democrats. | |
| “My opponent has been quite critical of the president. He has called him weak, he has called him disappointing he even tried to advocate for somebody to run against him when he ran in 2012,” Clinton said, while some in the crowd booed and jeered. “I am unapologetic,” she continued, above the applause. “I will build on the progress that President Obama has made.” | |
| She also implied that Sanders was a dreamer with a host of big ideas that were unachievable in the current political climate. | |
| “I won’t make any promises that I can’t keep,” she said. “We don’t need any more of those.” | |
| Clinton returned to her native Chicago on Wednesday both to campaign and fundraise. After the rally, she was expected to attend two private fundraisers in the afternoon and a fundraising event in the evening. | |
| 9.21pm GMT | 9.21pm GMT |
| 21:21 | 21:21 |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said Wednesday he hoped Apple would “voluntarily” unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s phone, the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui reports from South Carolina: | Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio said Wednesday he hoped Apple would “voluntarily” unlock the San Bernardino shooter’s phone, the Guardian’s Sabrina Siddiqui reports from South Carolina: |
| “Ultimately, I think being a good corporate citizen is important,” Rubio told reporters while campaigning in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, while adding there was “no easy answer” on the issue of encryption. | “Ultimately, I think being a good corporate citizen is important,” Rubio told reporters while campaigning in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, while adding there was “no easy answer” on the issue of encryption. |
| “On the one hand this encryption is designed to prevent people from having unauthorized access to your private information. On the other hand there are terrorists and criminals who are using encryption to protect themselves.” | “On the one hand this encryption is designed to prevent people from having unauthorized access to your private information. On the other hand there are terrorists and criminals who are using encryption to protect themselves.” |
| The Florida senator said the government would have to work collaboratively with the private sector to reach a solution. “The question is how can we work collaboratively with Silicon Valley and the tech industry to work through this issue we now face,” Rubio said. “America has a history in times of war, in times of challenge, of working with the private sector. | The Florida senator said the government would have to work collaboratively with the private sector to reach a solution. “The question is how can we work collaboratively with Silicon Valley and the tech industry to work through this issue we now face,” Rubio said. “America has a history in times of war, in times of challenge, of working with the private sector. |
| As president, he added, Rubio would seek out a way forward on encryption “that protects America’s privacy but still allows [the federal government] access to valuable information that can prevent future attacks.” | As president, he added, Rubio would seek out a way forward on encryption “that protects America’s privacy but still allows [the federal government] access to valuable information that can prevent future attacks.” |
| 8.54pm GMT | 8.54pm GMT |
| 20:54 | 20:54 |
| Is the Monmouth University poll showing Ohio governor John Kasich in the single digits in South Carolina spooking him out of the contest? Sure looks that way. | Is the Monmouth University poll showing Ohio governor John Kasich in the single digits in South Carolina spooking him out of the contest? Sure looks that way. |
| According to the Boston Globe, Kasich will not be in the Palmetto State for its Republican primary this Saturday - instead, he’ll be hosting a town hall meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts and will later attend a $2,700-per-person fundraiser in Boston’s bougie Back Bay neighborhood. The event pairing is likely an event to pave Kasich’s way for the Massachusetts Republican primary, to be held on March 1. | According to the Boston Globe, Kasich will not be in the Palmetto State for its Republican primary this Saturday - instead, he’ll be hosting a town hall meeting in Worcester, Massachusetts and will later attend a $2,700-per-person fundraiser in Boston’s bougie Back Bay neighborhood. The event pairing is likely an event to pave Kasich’s way for the Massachusetts Republican primary, to be held on March 1. |
| Kasich, who has been battling for fourth place in South Carolina, has previously stated that he’s not expecting to win the nation’s second primary. The Massachusetts primary, on the other hand, may be fertile ground for the more moderate Kasich. | Kasich, who has been battling for fourth place in South Carolina, has previously stated that he’s not expecting to win the nation’s second primary. The Massachusetts primary, on the other hand, may be fertile ground for the more moderate Kasich. |
| 8.28pm GMT | 8.28pm GMT |
| 20:28 | 20:28 |
| Lauren Gambino | Lauren Gambino |
| It’s no secret that Vermont senator Bernie Sanders represents an overwhelmingly vanilla-white state, reports the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino - a problem that’s only going to snowball as the primaries move to the South: | It’s no secret that Vermont senator Bernie Sanders represents an overwhelmingly vanilla-white state, reports the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino - a problem that’s only going to snowball as the primaries move to the South: |
| His critics say that’s left him flat-footed in responding to issues of racial inequality. Remember Netroots Nation, when Sanders’s response to Black Lives Matter protesters inspired the ironic hashtag #BernieSoBlack? | His critics say that’s left him flat-footed in responding to issues of racial inequality. Remember Netroots Nation, when Sanders’s response to Black Lives Matter protesters inspired the ironic hashtag #BernieSoBlack? |
| As the primary race moves to more diverse states, Sanders is making a more concerted efforts to reach black voters. But Vermont’s black leaders told the Daily Beast that their senator Sanders did little to connect with them. | As the primary race moves to more diverse states, Sanders is making a more concerted efforts to reach black voters. But Vermont’s black leaders told the Daily Beast that their senator Sanders did little to connect with them. |
| One leader said Sanders only wanted to discuss income inequality and dismissed attempts to address other issues. | One leader said Sanders only wanted to discuss income inequality and dismissed attempts to address other issues. |
| “He just always kept coming back to income inequality as a response, as if talking about income inequality would somehow make issues of racism go away,” said Curtiss Reed Jr., the executive director of Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity. | “He just always kept coming back to income inequality as a response, as if talking about income inequality would somehow make issues of racism go away,” said Curtiss Reed Jr., the executive director of Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity. |
| This criticism may prove problematic for Sanders as he courts voters who are dually and disproportionately affected by racial and economic inequality. | This criticism may prove problematic for Sanders as he courts voters who are dually and disproportionately affected by racial and economic inequality. |
| So far in his campaign, Sanders has addressed racism through the lens of economic inequality. Rather, she would tackle it as its own ugly form of inequality that is connected to and exacerbated by economic inequality. | So far in his campaign, Sanders has addressed racism through the lens of economic inequality. Rather, she would tackle it as its own ugly form of inequality that is connected to and exacerbated by economic inequality. |
| On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton drew a clear distinction between herself and Sanders on issues concerning race and implied that her opponent wasn’t up to the challenge. | On Tuesday, Hillary Clinton drew a clear distinction between herself and Sanders on issues concerning race and implied that her opponent wasn’t up to the challenge. |
| “We have to begin by facing up to the reality of systemic racism,” she said, speaking in Harlem on Tuesday. “Because these are not only problems of economic inequality. These are problems of racial inequality. And we have got to say that loudly and clearly.” | “We have to begin by facing up to the reality of systemic racism,” she said, speaking in Harlem on Tuesday. “Because these are not only problems of economic inequality. These are problems of racial inequality. And we have got to say that loudly and clearly.” |
| On Wednesday, surrogates for Clinton piled on. | |
| “It is disturbing to read that Bernie Sanders has a record of consistently turning his back against the Black voters in his very own state of Vermont,” said South Carolina representative Todd Rutherford. | |
| “The lack of confidence that African-American citizens in Vermont have about Senator Bernie Sanders’ leadership is troubling and should be of concern to Black voters throughout the country,” said former NYC mayor, David Dinkins. | |
| Sanders’ campaign has not yet responded to a request for comment. | |
| Updated | |
| at 9.57pm GMT | |
| 7.26pm GMT | 7.26pm GMT |
| 19:26 | 19:26 |
| Whose endorsement would you rather have? | Whose endorsement would you rather have? |
| Approval rating among SC GOP:Haley (endorsed Rubio): 81%Scott (endorsed Rubio): 75%Graham (endorsed Jeb): 53%https://t.co/MqNnZQhlJp | Approval rating among SC GOP:Haley (endorsed Rubio): 81%Scott (endorsed Rubio): 75%Graham (endorsed Jeb): 53%https://t.co/MqNnZQhlJp |
| 7.15pm GMT | 7.15pm GMT |
| 19:15 | 19:15 |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Governor Nikki Haley will endorse Marco Rubio for president, it was reported on Wednesday, lending a major boost to the Florida senator’s campaign just days ahead of the South Carolina Republican primary, writes Guardian political reporter Sabrina Siddiqui in Aiken, South Carolina: | Governor Nikki Haley will endorse Marco Rubio for president, it was reported on Wednesday, lending a major boost to the Florida senator’s campaign just days ahead of the South Carolina Republican primary, writes Guardian political reporter Sabrina Siddiqui in Aiken, South Carolina: |
| The Post and Courier first reported the endorsement, adding that Haley will appear alongside Rubio at an evening campaign event in Chapin. | The Post and Courier first reported the endorsement, adding that Haley will appear alongside Rubio at an evening campaign event in Chapin. |
| Haley will become the third influential South Carolina official to back Rubio. The senator already has the support of Senator Tim Scott and Congressman Trey Gowdy, two of the state’s popular lawmakers. | Haley will become the third influential South Carolina official to back Rubio. The senator already has the support of Senator Tim Scott and Congressman Trey Gowdy, two of the state’s popular lawmakers. |
| Haley’s endorsement had long been sought by Republican candidates. Although her endorsement of Mitt Romney in 2012 did not help him to secure a victory in South Carolina, Haley has risen significantly in stature since then. | Haley’s endorsement had long been sought by Republican candidates. Although her endorsement of Mitt Romney in 2012 did not help him to secure a victory in South Carolina, Haley has risen significantly in stature since then. |
| Haley, the second Indian American to be elected governor and first woman to hold the post in South Carolina, resurfaced on the national scene last year after a racially motivated church shooting in Charleston. | Haley, the second Indian American to be elected governor and first woman to hold the post in South Carolina, resurfaced on the national scene last year after a racially motivated church shooting in Charleston. |
| She was widely praised for her response, which included swift action to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state Capitol. | She was widely praised for her response, which included swift action to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the state Capitol. |
| She also delivered the Republican response to this year’s State of the Union address, earning accolades for speaking out against the sharp anti-immigrant rhetoric that has taken hold of the GOP primary. | She also delivered the Republican response to this year’s State of the Union address, earning accolades for speaking out against the sharp anti-immigrant rhetoric that has taken hold of the GOP primary. |
| Rubio has lavished Haley with praise, particularly for how she handled the Emanuel AME church massacre, and told reporters Tuesday he would welcome her endorsement. | Rubio has lavished Haley with praise, particularly for how she handled the Emanuel AME church massacre, and told reporters Tuesday he would welcome her endorsement. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.18pm GMT | at 7.18pm GMT |
| 7.06pm GMT | 7.06pm GMT |
| 19:06 | 19:06 |
| Sanders camp calls Killer Mike 'uterus' controversy 'gotcha' politics | Sanders camp calls Killer Mike 'uterus' controversy 'gotcha' politics |
| A spokesman for Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has dismissed charges of sexism against Sanders supporter Killer Mike, the Atlanta-based rapper, as “gotcha” politics. | A spokesman for Vermont senator Bernie Sanders has dismissed charges of sexism against Sanders supporter Killer Mike, the Atlanta-based rapper, as “gotcha” politics. |
| Speaking at a Sanders rally at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Tuesday, Killer Mike argued against the Hillary Clinton candidacy in part by quoting the activist Jane Elliott as saying, “Michael, a uterus doesn’t qualify you to be president of the United States.” | Speaking at a Sanders rally at Morehouse College in Atlanta on Tuesday, Killer Mike argued against the Hillary Clinton candidacy in part by quoting the activist Jane Elliott as saying, “Michael, a uterus doesn’t qualify you to be president of the United States.” |
| After a local reporter live-tweeted the line without the Elliott reference, the rapper was attacked on social media as sexist. That charge was amplified by the Clinton campaign, with senior communications adviser Karen Finney piling on on Twitter: | After a local reporter live-tweeted the line without the Elliott reference, the rapper was attacked on social media as sexist. That charge was amplified by the Clinton campaign, with senior communications adviser Karen Finney piling on on Twitter: |
| Based on her uterus? Must be ignoring @HillaryClinton lifetime of doing the work breaking down barriers for all. @KillerMike | Based on her uterus? Must be ignoring @HillaryClinton lifetime of doing the work breaking down barriers for all. @KillerMike |
| Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said Wednesday that Killer Mike, who has been campaigning widely for the senator, “doesn’t believe gender should be a reason to vote for or against someone.” | Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs said Wednesday that Killer Mike, who has been campaigning widely for the senator, “doesn’t believe gender should be a reason to vote for or against someone.” |
| “That’s the point Mike was making when he quoted Jane Elliott, the internationally known educator,” said Briggs. “We need to get beyond the gotcha politics and get to the issues at the heart of the election.” | “That’s the point Mike was making when he quoted Jane Elliott, the internationally known educator,” said Briggs. “We need to get beyond the gotcha politics and get to the issues at the heart of the election.” |
| “I don’t and never will Hate or think less of women,” the rapper said in a tweet referring to former Ohio state senator Nina Turner, who also spoke at the rally. “Sen. Nina Turner is my Next Great Political Champ but I’m sorry No HRC for me.” | “I don’t and never will Hate or think less of women,” the rapper said in a tweet referring to former Ohio state senator Nina Turner, who also spoke at the rally. “Sen. Nina Turner is my Next Great Political Champ but I’m sorry No HRC for me.” |
| Killer Mike, aka Michael Render, and his supporters circulated transcripts of his speech to illustrate the context of his “uterus” remark: | Killer Mike, aka Michael Render, and his supporters circulated transcripts of his speech to illustrate the context of his “uterus” remark: |
| FYI: That @KillerMike sound bite going around is pretty dishonest. Here’s the full context. Notice what’s missing. pic.twitter.com/nRR9jXcKAX | FYI: That @KillerMike sound bite going around is pretty dishonest. Here’s the full context. Notice what’s missing. pic.twitter.com/nRR9jXcKAX |
| There’s video, too: | There’s video, too: |
| @KillerMike here’s the clip of your full quote in context to quiet the haters pic.twitter.com/W63tyqNA1y | @KillerMike here’s the clip of your full quote in context to quiet the haters pic.twitter.com/W63tyqNA1y |
| And here’s the full speech. Elliott herself defended the rapper in an interview with the Huffington Post, saying, “it’s a ridiculous thing to be upset about”: | And here’s the full speech. Elliott herself defended the rapper in an interview with the Huffington Post, saying, “it’s a ridiculous thing to be upset about”: |
| I sincerely see this woman as one of my greatest teachers. Thank U #JaneElliot pic.twitter.com/l6MbWFrOZk | I sincerely see this woman as one of my greatest teachers. Thank U #JaneElliot pic.twitter.com/l6MbWFrOZk |
| But others who took up the discussion, including former Guardian US columnist Jill Filipovic and others, said the context did not excuse the statement. | But others who took up the discussion, including former Guardian US columnist Jill Filipovic and others, said the context did not excuse the statement. |
| C'mon guys. You know "Killer Mike was just quoting a feminist!" is not an excuse. Remember when Trump "quoted" someone calling Cruz a pussy? | C'mon guys. You know "Killer Mike was just quoting a feminist!" is not an excuse. Remember when Trump "quoted" someone calling Cruz a pussy? |
| Filipovic compared the controversy to recent consternation in Democratic circles at comments feminist icon Gloria Steinem and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright made about young women who support Sanders. | Filipovic compared the controversy to recent consternation in Democratic circles at comments feminist icon Gloria Steinem and former secretary of state Madeleine Albright made about young women who support Sanders. |
| Albright warned there was a “special place in hell” for women who don’t support other women, and Steinem suggested that young women supporting Sanders were in it for the boys. Both later apologized. | Albright warned there was a “special place in hell” for women who don’t support other women, and Steinem suggested that young women supporting Sanders were in it for the boys. Both later apologized. |
| Context for Killer Mike's comments matters. So did context for Gloria and Madeleine. And yet. | Context for Killer Mike's comments matters. So did context for Gloria and Madeleine. And yet. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.13pm GMT | at 7.13pm GMT |
| 7.00pm GMT | 7.00pm GMT |
| 19:00 | 19:00 |
| Haley endorses Rubio – Post and Courier | Haley endorses Rubio – Post and Courier |
| The local paper has the scoop: popular South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has thrown her support behind Florida senator Marco Rubio, as the state’s Republicans prepare to vote Saturday. | The local paper has the scoop: popular South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has thrown her support behind Florida senator Marco Rubio, as the state’s Republicans prepare to vote Saturday. |
| BREAKING: Gov. Nikki Haley endorses Sen. Marco Rubio for president. #scpol #SCPrimary #chsnews pic.twitter.com/1d56EtVmLP | BREAKING: Gov. Nikki Haley endorses Sen. Marco Rubio for president. #scpol #SCPrimary #chsnews pic.twitter.com/1d56EtVmLP |
| Haley tangled with Donald Trump after her response to Barack Obama’s state of the union address this year, in which she called on Republicans to reject the “siren call of the angriest voices.” For some reason Trump thought she was talking about him. | Haley tangled with Donald Trump after her response to Barack Obama’s state of the union address this year, in which she called on Republicans to reject the “siren call of the angriest voices.” For some reason Trump thought she was talking about him. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.01pm GMT | at 7.01pm GMT |
| 6.27pm GMT | 6.27pm GMT |
| 18:27 | 18:27 |
| Trump on Cruz lawsuit threat: 'Time will tell, Teddy' | Trump on Cruz lawsuit threat: 'Time will tell, Teddy' |
| The Donald Trump campaign has responded to Ted Cruz’s challenge to Trump to make good on a defamation lawuit threat over a Cruz ad. | The Donald Trump campaign has responded to Ted Cruz’s challenge to Trump to make good on a defamation lawuit threat over a Cruz ad. |
| “Donald I would encourage you, if you want to file a lawsuit challenging this ad, claiming it is defamation, file a lawsuit,” Cruz said at a midday news conference. | “Donald I would encourage you, if you want to file a lawsuit challenging this ad, claiming it is defamation, file a lawsuit,” Cruz said at a midday news conference. |
| “If I want to bring a lawsuit it would be legitimate,” Trump replies, in a statement obtained by the Guardian: | “If I want to bring a lawsuit it would be legitimate,” Trump replies, in a statement obtained by the Guardian: |
| Ted Cruz has already had one of his ads pulled off the air concerning Senator Rubio because it was totally false. Additionally, he was forced to apologize to Dr. Ben Carson for fraudulently stealing his votes in Iowa, and was embarrassed by his phony voter violation form. He is a liar and these ads and statements made by Cruz are clearly desperate moves by a guy who is tanking in the polls- watching his campaign go up in flames finally explains Cruz’s logo. I am pro-life and I do not support tax payer funding for Planned Parenthood as long as they are performing abortions. I have been clear about my position on this issue for years. I am also a strong advocate of the second amendment and a proud member of the NRA, as are my sons. I will repeal and replace ObamaCare and I would nominate a very conservative Justice to protect our freedoms and conservative values. If I want to bring a lawsuit it would be legitimate. Likewise, if I want to bring the lawsuit regarding Senator Cruz being a natural born Canadian I will do so. Time will tell, Teddy. - Donald J. Trump | Ted Cruz has already had one of his ads pulled off the air concerning Senator Rubio because it was totally false. Additionally, he was forced to apologize to Dr. Ben Carson for fraudulently stealing his votes in Iowa, and was embarrassed by his phony voter violation form. He is a liar and these ads and statements made by Cruz are clearly desperate moves by a guy who is tanking in the polls- watching his campaign go up in flames finally explains Cruz’s logo. I am pro-life and I do not support tax payer funding for Planned Parenthood as long as they are performing abortions. I have been clear about my position on this issue for years. I am also a strong advocate of the second amendment and a proud member of the NRA, as are my sons. I will repeal and replace ObamaCare and I would nominate a very conservative Justice to protect our freedoms and conservative values. If I want to bring a lawsuit it would be legitimate. Likewise, if I want to bring the lawsuit regarding Senator Cruz being a natural born Canadian I will do so. Time will tell, Teddy. - Donald J. Trump |
| (via @bencjacobs) | (via @bencjacobs) |
| Cruz lawyers' response to Trump's cease and desist demand--> pic.twitter.com/ufsPNT1p9p | Cruz lawyers' response to Trump's cease and desist demand--> pic.twitter.com/ufsPNT1p9p |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.28pm GMT | at 6.28pm GMT |
| 6.20pm GMT | 6.20pm GMT |
| 18:20 | 18:20 |
| Our conception of how the general presidential race will look and feel is necessarily uninformed and subject to change. Many voters haven’t yet gotten to know the candidates. Minds can change depending on events or star signs or weather or who knows what. There are months to go in which any candidate may rise or plummet. | Our conception of how the general presidential race will look and feel is necessarily uninformed and subject to change. Many voters haven’t yet gotten to know the candidates. Minds can change depending on events or star signs or weather or who knows what. There are months to go in which any candidate may rise or plummet. |
| Nonetheless, pollsters are posing questions about theoretical general election matchups to voters. USA Today / Suffolk have dropped a new poll showing Bernie Sanders out-performing Hillary Clinton: | Nonetheless, pollsters are posing questions about theoretical general election matchups to voters. USA Today / Suffolk have dropped a new poll showing Bernie Sanders out-performing Hillary Clinton: |
| The nationwide survey, taken Thursday through Monday, underscores how formidable an opponent the 74-year-old democratic socialist has become against one of theDemocratic Party’s most established figures. | The nationwide survey, taken Thursday through Monday, underscores how formidable an opponent the 74-year-old democratic socialist has become against one of theDemocratic Party’s most established figures. |
| USA Today/Suffolk national:Cruz 45 Clinton 44Trump 45 Clinton 43Rubio 48 Clinton 42Kasich 49 Clinton 38 https://t.co/eP3ZKg6wNt | USA Today/Suffolk national:Cruz 45 Clinton 44Trump 45 Clinton 43Rubio 48 Clinton 42Kasich 49 Clinton 38 https://t.co/eP3ZKg6wNt |
| 6.12pm GMT | 6.12pm GMT |
| 18:12 | 18:12 |
| Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon, has scored an endorsement from an elected official! His first, according to FiveThirtyEight’s endorsement tracker. | Ben Carson, the retired neurosurgeon, has scored an endorsement from an elected official! His first, according to FiveThirtyEight’s endorsement tracker. |
| Carson gets the nod from Maryland Representative Andy Harris, a fellow doctor at Johns Hopkins known for his solitary and staunch opposition to marijuana decriminalization in Washington, DC. | Carson gets the nod from Maryland Representative Andy Harris, a fellow doctor at Johns Hopkins known for his solitary and staunch opposition to marijuana decriminalization in Washington, DC. |
| The party decides pic.twitter.com/pVOZ7ElTNF | The party decides pic.twitter.com/pVOZ7ElTNF |
| Update: | Update: |
| Freakin Ben Carson got a congressional endorsement before Trump https://t.co/U5KMbjmRG4 | Freakin Ben Carson got a congressional endorsement before Trump https://t.co/U5KMbjmRG4 |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.23pm GMT | at 7.23pm GMT |
| 5.42pm GMT | 5.42pm GMT |
| 17:42 | 17:42 |
| Utah senator Mike Lee, possibly Cruz’s only friend in the Senate, plans to campaign in South Carolina tomorrow alongside Marco Rubio. | Utah senator Mike Lee, possibly Cruz’s only friend in the Senate, plans to campaign in South Carolina tomorrow alongside Marco Rubio. |
| But Lee will campaign with Cruz, too, his spokesperson says. | But Lee will campaign with Cruz, too, his spokesperson says. |
| CORRECTION: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that Lee plans to campaign in South Carolina with both Cruz and Rubio, not Rubio alone, as initially reported, which would have been a serious burn on Cruz. | CORRECTION: This post has been updated to reflect the fact that Lee plans to campaign in South Carolina with both Cruz and Rubio, not Rubio alone, as initially reported, which would have been a serious burn on Cruz. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.52pm GMT | at 5.52pm GMT |
| 5.34pm GMT | 5.34pm GMT |
| 17:34 | 17:34 |
| Cruz: vote for Trump is vote to erase second amendment | Cruz: vote for Trump is vote to erase second amendment |
| Cruz is kneecapping Rubio, too. “Ethics matter,” says Cruz, who spread a false rumor in Iowa that Ben Carson had dropped out of the campaign and sent mailers to voters accusing them of a “voting violation.” | Cruz is kneecapping Rubio, too. “Ethics matter,” says Cruz, who spread a false rumor in Iowa that Ben Carson had dropped out of the campaign and sent mailers to voters accusing them of a “voting violation.” |
| Cruz says Rubio campaign is falsely accusing his team of misconduct "with zero evidence." | Cruz says Rubio campaign is falsely accusing his team of misconduct "with zero evidence." |
| “It drives the narrative they want to sell,” Cruz says of Rubio campaign | “It drives the narrative they want to sell,” Cruz says of Rubio campaign |
| Cruz: “Marco Rubio is behaving like Donald Trump with a smile.” | Cruz: “Marco Rubio is behaving like Donald Trump with a smile.” |
| “The one candidate who has done a push poll is Marco Rubio,” Cruz says, adding: “Ethics matter.” | “The one candidate who has done a push poll is Marco Rubio,” Cruz says, adding: “Ethics matter.” |
| "I am not insulting anybody," Cruz says after lengthy critique of Trump and Rubio in Seneca, SC. | "I am not insulting anybody," Cruz says after lengthy critique of Trump and Rubio in Seneca, SC. |
| “I think Justice Scalia’s passing this week elevated the stakes of this election,” Cruz says. He says South Carolina voters are asking themselves, ‘Who can I trust?’ | “I think Justice Scalia’s passing this week elevated the stakes of this election,” Cruz says. He says South Carolina voters are asking themselves, ‘Who can I trust?’ |
| Cruz says that Trump’s “four decades” of writing checks for “left-wing Democrats” proves that he doesn’t care about conservative justices. “We are one justice away from the second amendment being erased from the Bill of Rights.” | Cruz says that Trump’s “four decades” of writing checks for “left-wing Democrats” proves that he doesn’t care about conservative justices. “We are one justice away from the second amendment being erased from the Bill of Rights.” |
| In case anyone missed that, Cruz puts a finer point on it: | In case anyone missed that, Cruz puts a finer point on it: |
| A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to erase the second amendment from the Bill of Rights.” | A vote for Donald Trump is a vote to erase the second amendment from the Bill of Rights.” |
| 5.21pm GMT | 5.21pm GMT |
| 17:21 | 17:21 |
| Cruz to Trump: so sue me | Cruz to Trump: so sue me |
| Cruz at peak Cruz: | Cruz at peak Cruz: |
| Even in the annals of frivolous lawsuits, this takes the cake. And so Donald I would encourage you, if you want to file a lawsuit challenging this ad, claiming it is defamation, file a lawsuit. | Even in the annals of frivolous lawsuits, this takes the cake. And so Donald I would encourage you, if you want to file a lawsuit challenging this ad, claiming it is defamation, file a lawsuit. |
| “It is a remarkable contention that an ad that plays video of Donald Trump speaking on national television is somehow defamation.” | “It is a remarkable contention that an ad that plays video of Donald Trump speaking on national television is somehow defamation.” |
| WATCH: @TedCruz challenges Donald Trump to follow through on alleged threat to file suit over anti-Trump ad. https://t.co/gCXS9FsiME | WATCH: @TedCruz challenges Donald Trump to follow through on alleged threat to file suit over anti-Trump ad. https://t.co/gCXS9FsiME |
| 5.17pm GMT | 5.17pm GMT |
| 17:17 | 17:17 |
| Cruz is going after Trump in this news conference, listing “pro-abortion Democrats” that Trump has contributed to: | Cruz is going after Trump in this news conference, listing “pro-abortion Democrats” that Trump has contributed to: |
| Fascinating: @TedCruz staging a courtroom-style argument against @realDonaldTrump right now in front of reporters, cameras… w whiteboards! | Fascinating: @TedCruz staging a courtroom-style argument against @realDonaldTrump right now in front of reporters, cameras… w whiteboards! |
| Mystery posters revealed: @tedcruz lists off "pro-abortion Democrats" @realDonaldTrump has given to pic.twitter.com/r57iRAnrjJ | Mystery posters revealed: @tedcruz lists off "pro-abortion Democrats" @realDonaldTrump has given to pic.twitter.com/r57iRAnrjJ |
| Cruz says: "Donald Trump is a direct cause of Obamacare passing." Cites long history of contributions to Democrats. | Cruz says: "Donald Trump is a direct cause of Obamacare passing." Cites long history of contributions to Democrats. |
| Ok but donations mostly to safe Dem seats like Rangel and Maloney https://t.co/D86w0WLcmO | Ok but donations mostly to safe Dem seats like Rangel and Maloney https://t.co/D86w0WLcmO |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.18pm GMT | at 5.18pm GMT |
| 5.13pm GMT | 5.13pm GMT |
| 17:13 | 17:13 |
| Cruz reads cease-and-desist letter from Trump's lawyer | Cruz reads cease-and-desist letter from Trump's lawyer |
| At a news conference in Seneca, New Hampshire, Texas senator Ted Cruz is reading a cease-and-desist letter his campaign received from Donald Trump’s lawyer. | At a news conference in Seneca, New Hampshire, Texas senator Ted Cruz is reading a cease-and-desist letter his campaign received from Donald Trump’s lawyer. |
| Cruz says the letter singles out an ad Cruz is running tarring Trump as pro-choice and unfit to pick the next Supreme Court justice. “We cannot trust Donald Trump with these serious decisions,” the ad says. | Cruz says the letter singles out an ad Cruz is running tarring Trump as pro-choice and unfit to pick the next Supreme Court justice. “We cannot trust Donald Trump with these serious decisions,” the ad says. |
| On Monday, Trump threatened to sue Cruz over the senator’s eligibility for president, saying that unless his rival stops telling “lies” he will take the issue of his birth in Canada to court. | On Monday, Trump threatened to sue Cruz over the senator’s eligibility for president, saying that unless his rival stops telling “lies” he will take the issue of his birth in Canada to court. |
| .@tedcruz reads cease and desist letter from @realDonaldTrump lawyer pic.twitter.com/atJ8CmHpTG | .@tedcruz reads cease and desist letter from @realDonaldTrump lawyer pic.twitter.com/atJ8CmHpTG |
| Cruz says Trump campaign sent a cease-and-desist in response to the ad | Cruz says Trump campaign sent a cease-and-desist in response to the ad |
| Here’s the Cruz ad: | Here’s the Cruz ad: |