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Clinton on course to win South Carolina Democratic primary – campaign live Clinton on course to win South Carolina Democratic primary – campaign live
(35 minutes later)
10.45pm GMT
22:45
I probably shouldn’t point to other newspapers’ coverage too often on here, obviously, but the New York Times today has a tremendous and fascinating piece on the behind-the-scenes machinations going on in Republican circles as a Donald Trump nomination looms ever larger:
At least two campaigns have drafted plans to overtake Mr Trump in a brokered convention, and the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has laid out a plan that would have lawmakers break with Mr Trump explicitly in a general election.
Despite such deliciously House of Cards-tinged intrigue, the main takeaways are that no-one in those Republican circles really has much of a clue how to stop Trump without destroying the party, and Chris Christie’s endorsement of him on Friday has only made things worse…
10.38pm GMT
22:38
Remember that photo from Dan Roberts of the turnout for Bernie Sanders in Dallas this evening, a couple of posts ago? You know, the usual: arena full-to-bursting, chants of “Turn Texas Blue”, probably some Woody Guthrie somewhere.
Well, this was the scene when Dan went to a Sanders rally in Columbia, South Carolina on Friday night:
Spot the difference.
10.31pm GMT
22:31
Dan Roberts
Our Washington bureau chief is with Bernie Sanders in Texas, from where he filed this dispatch and video earlier. Contains added Woody Guthrie…
Despite leaving South Carolina with his tail between his legs this morning, Bernie Sanders quickly picked up the groove again in at a lunchtime rally in Austin.
This is still peak Bernie territory and the campaign estimates 10,000 people came to see him, a number that was hard to verify because so many were still queuing to get in when then speech started.
Radio commentator and warm-up act Jim Hightower reminded the crowd that this wasn’t just Austin, this was south Austin, where “we’re here because we’re not all there”.
Nonetheless, the sunshine and socialism was a much-needed tonic for the campaign which has low expectations in most of the south but is hopeful of running Clinton closer than pundits expect in Texas.
The rally finished with one of Bernie’s many musical staples, a rendition of Woody Guthrie’s folk classic This Land is Your Land, aided and abetted in this case by a duo called Folk Uke – featuring Amy Nelson, daughter of Willie Nelson, and Cathy Guthrie, granddaughter of Woody Guthrie.
10.29pm GMT
22:29
Here, meanwhile, is what polling guru/ace/wizard/egghead/boffin/genius Nate Silver, over at fivethirtyeight.com, says about tonight’s result, which we’re expecting at 7pm ET or shortly thereafter:
According to our final polls-only forecast, Hillary Clinton has a greater than 99% chance of winning the South Carolina primary.
So there’s that.
10.24pm GMT
22:24
Dan Roberts, our Washington bureau chief, is with Bernie Sanders in Dallas, which as I’ve pointed out already is, pointedly, not in South Carolina. Here’s the scene a short while ago:
10.09pm GMT10.09pm GMT
22:0922:09
Good evening, and welcome to our continuing live-wire coverage of the presidential election, which tonight has landed in the Palmetto State, South Carolina, for the Democratic primary.Good evening, and welcome to our continuing live-wire coverage of the presidential election, which tonight has landed in the Palmetto State, South Carolina, for the Democratic primary.
Hillary Clinton is expected to win it, and handily. Don’t believe me? Ask Bernie Sanders, who flew out to Texas earlier on election day, there to concentrate on voters who will go to the polls on Super Tuesday.Hillary Clinton is expected to win it, and handily. Don’t believe me? Ask Bernie Sanders, who flew out to Texas earlier on election day, there to concentrate on voters who will go to the polls on Super Tuesday.
Dan Roberts was on the plane with him, while Lauren Gambino is with Clinton. We’ll have updates from them, on a night which should emphasise the lasting hold the Clinton machine has on the south, and African American voters in particular. Megan Carpentier is attending a Clinton watch party in Minnesota, another Super Tuesday state.Dan Roberts was on the plane with him, while Lauren Gambino is with Clinton. We’ll have updates from them, on a night which should emphasise the lasting hold the Clinton machine has on the south, and African American voters in particular. Megan Carpentier is attending a Clinton watch party in Minnesota, another Super Tuesday state.
Adam Gabbatt, meanwhile, is at a Donald Trump rally in Memphis, Tennessee. There may or may not be the usual unusual fireworks to come from there. Perhaps the candidate will address his latest endorsement, which came today from la belle France…Adam Gabbatt, meanwhile, is at a Donald Trump rally in Memphis, Tennessee. There may or may not be the usual unusual fireworks to come from there. Perhaps the candidate will address his latest endorsement, which came today from la belle France…
Related: Jean-Marie Le Pen endorses Trump days after ex-KKK leader urges supportRelated: Jean-Marie Le Pen endorses Trump days after ex-KKK leader urges support
…and when you’ve caught your breath from that, here’s some more pre-primary reading:…and when you’ve caught your breath from that, here’s some more pre-primary reading:
UpdatedUpdated
at 10.15pm GMTat 10.15pm GMT