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| South Carolina primary live: Trump seeks victory after Clinton wins Nevada | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.10am GMT | |
| 00:10 | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| Earlier today in Chapin, South Carolina, primary voters Jane and Bob, a retired teacher and Bell South employee, respectively, highlighted the surprisingly anti-establishment nature of this campaign cycle. | |
| Jane, upon finding out her husband voted for Trump, was shocked. | |
| “You did not!” she exclaimed. | |
| Bob was apologetic. “We didn’t talk about it!” | |
| When asked why she voted for Jeb Bush, Jane cited his policy on education. “I’m a retired teacher, and I think that Bush is the best for education, which nobody seems to talk about too much this year.” | |
| For his part, Bob was less interested in particular policy points than the cultural shift that Trump represents. “Political correctness is dooming this country,” Bob said. “They all take money from outsiders, and Donald Trump has his own money.” | |
| 12.02am GMT | |
| 00:02 | |
| Richard Wolffe | |
| Bernie Sanders may, like Steve Jobs, be living in a reality distortion field. | |
| Delivering his speech in defeat in Nevada, he confidently declared the polls were moving his way. “We have made some real progress here,” he began. He said at the heart of the campaign was “the issue of momentum”, that he was closing the gap in the polls and that “we have come a very long way”. | |
| All of which may be true – but it just isn’t enough because, well, he lost in Nevada. | |
| “The wind is at our backs,” he said. “We have the momentum.” | |
| All this comes a week before the Democratic primary in South Carolina, where Bernie is heading for what looks like a decisive defeat. | |
| Sanders has promised one of the great political upsets at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia in July. He’s got to deliver a few more state-by-state upsets – more than just New Hampshire – before he can deliver on that promise. | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.09am GMT | |
| 12.01am GMT | |
| 00:01 | |
| Polls close in South Carolina Republican primary | |
| Scott Bixby | |
| Greetings from South Carolina, where the polls have just closed in the first-in-the-south primary election. | |
| Your blog, which is also still in Nevada, is now half-embedded here at the primary-night watch party for Ted Cruz at the South Carolina State Fairgrounds in Columbia, the capital and largest city in the Palmetto State. | |
| We’ve also got political reporter Ben Jacobs up in Spartanburg with Donald Trump and Sabrina Siddiqui here in Columbia with Marco Rubio ... plus Adam Gabbatt across town with perhaps the near-end of Jeb Bush and his family dynasty. | |
| The mood in Cruz’s camp is an optimistic one as voters surged across the state in a primary that multiple precinct clerks told the Guardian is on pace to shatter voter turnout records. Although b Trump has run a double-digit lead in every South Carolina poll since, well, polling began, the Texas senator has been closing the gap over the past week, with Florida senator Marco Rubio hot on his heels in a battle for second place. | |
| If our completely un-scientific exit polling – conducted at polling stations in Chapin, Prosperity, Newberry, Greenville and Daniel Island, South Carolina – is any indication, Saturday’s primary is Trump’s to lose. (The TV networks’ exit polls, which are yours to distrust, say Cruz is doing pretty well but Trump’s got the edge.) | |
| Mark Rushton of Chapin told the Guardian that all members of congress should be kicked out of government after their second term, and that his vote for Trump was a vote against career politicians. “All the politicians are lining their pockets – Trump’s got his own pockets!” | |
| Cruz, however, is banking on voters like Debbie Nogueira of Greenville, who have been turned off by Trump’s braggadocio and inconsistent support of conservative causes. “It was a hard decision – I didn’t even know until last week who I was gonna vote for,” Nogueira told the Guardian. “It was more about voting against Donald Trump than anything. I don’t like his attitude, he doesn’t seem to be of presidential material. He had Democratic opinions until five years ago, when he decided he could win as a Republican!” | |
| The results are expected to roll in relatively quickly, so stay tuned for our moment-by-moment rundown of Saturday night’s live battle down south ... | |
| Updated | |
| at 12.07am GMT | |
| 11.59pm GMT | |
| 23:59 | |
| Maria L La Ganga | |
| Jen Palmieri, Clinton’s communications director, addressed reporters at her victory party. | |
| People are looking for a president that can take care of all the problems people are facing and that can remove all the barriers that are holding them back... Since coming out of Iowa she has been speaking about and demonstrated ... by going to Flint that it’s not just economics, although that’s also important, it’s about creating jobs and it’s about removing other barriers, whether it’s about holding people back from being able to afford college or health care or housing discrimination or here in Nevada where they’re recovering from the housing mess, that she’s someone who can deal with all the problems and deliver results. | |
| Senator Sanders has run a very good campaign. He speaks very passionately to a lot of the anger, justifiably so that eople feel here. But we think that the longer the campaign goes on the more apparent it becomes as she makes her argument that she has solutions that will actually work and make a difference in people’s lives for all the barriers that hold them back. The most core principle that has motivated her all of her life is doing whatever she can to removing the barriers that stand in people’s way for having opportunity. | |
| She said tonight ... that the country can’t live to its potential until each of us can live up to our own. That’s what’s always motivated her. | |
| I don’t know the actual numbers RE unions, Maria reports, but it’s something that she and president Clinton spent a lot of time working on and they were very supportive of her in the past. We’ll have to see what the exit polls say. | |
| 11.56pm GMT | |
| 23:56 | |
| Sanders supporter cheers him into stage pic.twitter.com/H16y4pJEgt | |
| Sanders supporters cheer him as if he won in Nevada pic.twitter.com/61gDEBGpdr | |
| Sanders supporters at post caucus rally still enthused but pavilion less than half full pic.twitter.com/Txdg98wnsm | |
| As Sanders leaves stage Bowie's Starman playing on speakers | |
| 11.53pm GMT | |
| 23:53 | |
| Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement on the Nevada caucus: | |
| Hillary Clinton’s surprising underperformance in a state she should have won handily is another blow for her struggling campaign. Coming off a disastrous 22-point loss in New Hampshire, Hillary Clinton fell far short of the resounding victory she needed to calm the nerves of the Democrat establishment. Just weeks ago, the Clinton campaign was projecting a blowout but they once again had to pull out all of the stops to avoid another loss. | |
| The fact Bernie Sanders has shown the ability to compete anywhere on the map says as much about Democrats’ dissatisfaction with Hillary Clinton and her weaknesses as a candidate as it does about the sharp left turn their Party has taken. A prolonged nominating contest where Hillary Clinton is forced to outflank a self-avowed socialist will only make it easier for Republicans to recapture the White House. | |
| 11.47pm GMT | |
| 23:47 | |
| Lastly, as you know, taking on the establishment - whether it is the political establishment, the economic establishment - is not easy. | |
| But, he continues, “we have the momentum; and I believe that when Democrats assemble in Philadelphia in July at that convention, we are going to see the results of one of the great political upsets in the history of the United States.” | |
| The crowd goes wild. | |
| “Now it’s on to Super Tuesday,” he finishes. | |
| Not a subdued concession speech - a much more aggressive tack taken by senator Sanders there. | |
| 11.44pm GMT | |
| 23:44 | |
| He thanks his supporters; his “thousands of volunteers, including many of you, for working tirelessly. I want to thank our staff for the great job that they have done.” | |
| “I am especially proud that here in Nevada - we’re seeing this all over the country - we are bringing working people, young people into the political process in a way we have not seen for a very long time.” | |
| He says in a short time, he will be “on a plane to South Carolina.” | |
| I believe, on Super Tuesday, we have got a chance to win many of those states. | |
| Now he hits out at Clinton: “But I also know that on Super Tuesday and before, we will be taking on a very powerful and well funded super PAC, which receives money from wall street and special interests.” | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.47pm GMT | |
| 11.42pm GMT | |
| 23:42 | |
| What this entire campaign has been about is the issue of momentum - the issue of bringing more people into the political process. When we began in Iowa we were 50 points behind. We were 44 points behind in New Hampshire. We were a long way behind here. | |
| He hits out at the “corrupt campaign finance system which is undermining our democracy.” | |
| If Hillary Clinton’s speech was practically an inaugural address, Sanders’ speech is a Greatest Hits album. | |
| The American people are catching on that we have a rigged economy - people working two or three hours, longer and longer hours, for all income to go to the top one percent. | |
| Updated | |
| at 11.47pm GMT | |
| 11.41pm GMT | |
| 23:41 | |
| Bernie Sanders speaks after losing the Nevada caucuses pic.twitter.com/BcL4GVZo2T | |
| 11.39pm GMT | 11.39pm GMT |
| 23:39 | 23:39 |
| Bernie Sanders is speaking | Bernie Sanders is speaking |
| To adoring cheers and chants of “Bernie! Bernie!” from the crowd, Sanders thanks Nevada for “the extraordinary support we’ve recieved today. | To adoring cheers and chants of “Bernie! Bernie!” from the crowd, Sanders thanks Nevada for “the extraordinary support we’ve recieved today. |
| “You know, five weeks ago we were 25 points behind in the polls,” he says. The audience erupts again. | “You know, five weeks ago we were 25 points behind in the polls,” he says. The audience erupts again. |
| 11.38pm GMT | 11.38pm GMT |
| 23:38 | 23:38 |
| Dan Cantor, the director of the Working Families Party, a progressive political party which has endorsed Bernie Sanders, released the following statement in response to the results of today’s Nevada caucus: | Dan Cantor, the director of the Working Families Party, a progressive political party which has endorsed Bernie Sanders, released the following statement in response to the results of today’s Nevada caucus: |
| 11.36pm GMT | 11.36pm GMT |
| 23:36 | 23:36 |
| Maria L La Ganga | Maria L La Ganga |
| Who needs a candidate when there’s loud music, a happy crowd and a victory to be celebrated, Maria La Ganga reports from Hillary Clinton’s victory party in Las Vegas. | Who needs a candidate when there’s loud music, a happy crowd and a victory to be celebrated, Maria La Ganga reports from Hillary Clinton’s victory party in Las Vegas. |
| Joy Silver, a Hillary Clinton volunteer from Palm Springs, got to the former secretary of state’s post-caucus fete at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas strip long before Clinton herself. And what did Silver do to fill the time? Dance. And dance. And dance. | Joy Silver, a Hillary Clinton volunteer from Palm Springs, got to the former secretary of state’s post-caucus fete at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas strip long before Clinton herself. And what did Silver do to fill the time? Dance. And dance. And dance. |
| “I door knocked, canvassed, helped during the caucus, registered people,” said the silver-haired woman in jeans and a Clinton tee who traveled from California to help the campaign. “I’m so happy. This is a thrilling, thrilling moment.” | “I door knocked, canvassed, helped during the caucus, registered people,” said the silver-haired woman in jeans and a Clinton tee who traveled from California to help the campaign. “I’m so happy. This is a thrilling, thrilling moment.” |
| 11.34pm GMT | 11.34pm GMT |
| 23:34 | 23:34 |
| Richard Wolffe | Richard Wolffe |
| From Guardian US columnist Richard Wolffe: | From Guardian US columnist Richard Wolffe: |
| This is the start of a big week for Hillary Clinton. After the traditionally quirky first two states of Iowa and New Hampshire, this week’s contests took the Democratic race to a national level. | This is the start of a big week for Hillary Clinton. After the traditionally quirky first two states of Iowa and New Hampshire, this week’s contests took the Democratic race to a national level. |
| With the win in Nevada, and a commanding lead in the polls in South Carolina, Clinton can switch to a national campaign – a switch that started with her victory speech that checked off a list of target groups that she hopes will be her coalition moving forward. | With the win in Nevada, and a commanding lead in the polls in South Carolina, Clinton can switch to a national campaign – a switch that started with her victory speech that checked off a list of target groups that she hopes will be her coalition moving forward. |
| She talked about grandparents forced to choose between paying rent or paying for medicine; African-American families denied mortgages; small towns and rural communities. She even found time to talk about “coal country, Indian country”. It was like she was hop-scotching through the groups that she hopes will win her the next batch of primaries. | She talked about grandparents forced to choose between paying rent or paying for medicine; African-American families denied mortgages; small towns and rural communities. She even found time to talk about “coal country, Indian country”. It was like she was hop-scotching through the groups that she hopes will win her the next batch of primaries. |
| Then came the punch to the Bernie Sanders message: “The truth is, we aren’t a single issue country” she said. “We need more than a plan for the big banks.” | Then came the punch to the Bernie Sanders message: “The truth is, we aren’t a single issue country” she said. “We need more than a plan for the big banks.” |
| Clinton talked about “real solutions” – and by implication, not “fake” ones. She talked about jobs. And most of all, she talked about not tearing each other down: “We are all in this together” she said at least twice. | Clinton talked about “real solutions” – and by implication, not “fake” ones. She talked about jobs. And most of all, she talked about not tearing each other down: “We are all in this together” she said at least twice. |
| The clearest sign of rising confidence in the Clinton campaign was her victory speech in Nevada: it was a national message for a candidate who hopes and believes she can now build a national lead. | The clearest sign of rising confidence in the Clinton campaign was her victory speech in Nevada: it was a national message for a candidate who hopes and believes she can now build a national lead. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.35pm GMT | at 11.35pm GMT |
| 11.29pm GMT | 11.29pm GMT |
| 23:29 | 23:29 |
| Hillary Clinton gives her victory speech in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/Z1wNxTAYBd | Hillary Clinton gives her victory speech in Las Vegas pic.twitter.com/Z1wNxTAYBd |
| 11.29pm GMT | 11.29pm GMT |
| 23:29 | 23:29 |
| Maria L La Ganga | Maria L La Ganga |
| Decked out in red and standing beside her beaming husband, Clinton look happy and relieved but was more resolute for the race ahead than jubilant about what her tearful Nevada state director called a “big, big win.” | Decked out in red and standing beside her beaming husband, Clinton look happy and relieved but was more resolute for the race ahead than jubilant about what her tearful Nevada state director called a “big, big win.” |
| But her supporters were happy enough for the whole campaign. They were boisterous when Clinton took the stage and interrupted her victory speech with cheers and applause. | But her supporters were happy enough for the whole campaign. They were boisterous when Clinton took the stage and interrupted her victory speech with cheers and applause. |
| They booed at her mention of Flint, Michigan, where lead in the municipal water source has poisoned children. And they cheered lustily when she promised to appoint a Supreme Court justice who supports Democratic positions on the issues. The applause was loud when she dinged Sanders without saying his name -- “we aren’t a single-issue country” -- and even louder when she pledged to raise the wages of the middle class. | They booed at her mention of Flint, Michigan, where lead in the municipal water source has poisoned children. And they cheered lustily when she promised to appoint a Supreme Court justice who supports Democratic positions on the issues. The applause was loud when she dinged Sanders without saying his name -- “we aren’t a single-issue country” -- and even louder when she pledged to raise the wages of the middle class. |
| 11.28pm GMT | 11.28pm GMT |
| 23:28 | 23:28 |
| “Now I am heading on to Texas, Bill is on his way to Colorado - the fight goes on, the future that we want is within our grasp; god bless you,” she finishes. | “Now I am heading on to Texas, Bill is on his way to Colorado - the fight goes on, the future that we want is within our grasp; god bless you,” she finishes. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.30pm GMT | at 11.30pm GMT |
| 11.26pm GMT | 11.26pm GMT |
| 23:26 | 23:26 |
| “It can’t just be about what we are going to give to you - it has to be about what we are going to build together,” Clinton continues, echoing (slightly clumsily) Kennedy’s famous “ask not what your country can do for you” line from his 1961 inaugural address. | “It can’t just be about what we are going to give to you - it has to be about what we are going to build together,” Clinton continues, echoing (slightly clumsily) Kennedy’s famous “ask not what your country can do for you” line from his 1961 inaugural address. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 11.26pm GMT | at 11.26pm GMT |
| 11.23pm GMT | 11.23pm GMT |
| 23:23 | 23:23 |
| “I have never believed in dividing America between us and them,” she says. “I believe we all have to do our part.” | “I have never believed in dividing America between us and them,” she says. “I believe we all have to do our part.” |