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| Trump, Cruz and Rubio square off for Super Tuesday elections – as it happened | Trump, Cruz and Rubio square off for Super Tuesday elections – as it happened |
| (6 months later) | |
| 7.36pm GMT | 7.36pm GMT |
| 19:36 | 19:36 |
| We’re going to close our live coverage for the day. You can read a bullet-point summary of the day’s events here, and read a full take on the dark and surreal turns that the primary race took through the link below. | We’re going to close our live coverage for the day. You can read a bullet-point summary of the day’s events here, and read a full take on the dark and surreal turns that the primary race took through the link below. |
| 6.54pm GMT | 6.54pm GMT |
| 18:54 | 18:54 |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | Sabrina Siddiqui |
| Sabrina writes from Purcellville, Virginia, where today Marco Rubio addressed a big rally … on a predictable theme: | Sabrina writes from Purcellville, Virginia, where today Marco Rubio addressed a big rally … on a predictable theme: |
| Marco Rubio sharply criticized Donald Trump on Sunday as “unelectable”, over the billionaire’s failure that morning to rebuke David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. | Marco Rubio sharply criticized Donald Trump on Sunday as “unelectable”, over the billionaire’s failure that morning to rebuke David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan. |
| “We cannot be a party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the KKK,” Rubio told a crowd of 2,000 or so. | “We cannot be a party that nominates someone who refuses to condemn white supremacists and the KKK,” Rubio told a crowd of 2,000 or so. |
| The Florida senator told the crowd that Trump, during a CNN interview earlier in the day, had repeatedly declined to disavow Duke, the former KKK grand wizard who recently advised his supporters to vote for the billionaire. | The Florida senator told the crowd that Trump, during a CNN interview earlier in the day, had repeatedly declined to disavow Duke, the former KKK grand wizard who recently advised his supporters to vote for the billionaire. |
| Although Trump did so later in a tweet – restating a campaign-trail disavowal from Friday – Rubio said his opponent’s assertion on CNN that he didn’t know anything about Duke contradicted his prior statements. | Although Trump did so later in a tweet – restating a campaign-trail disavowal from Friday – Rubio said his opponent’s assertion on CNN that he didn’t know anything about Duke contradicted his prior statements. |
| Trump also publicly denounced the former KKK leader in 2000. Rubio cited this as evidence that he had been dishonest in his interview by pleading ignorance. | Trump also publicly denounced the former KKK leader in 2000. Rubio cited this as evidence that he had been dishonest in his interview by pleading ignorance. |
| “Not only is that wrong, it makes him unelectable,” Rubio said, adding: “How can we grow our party with a nominee who doesn’t know what the KKK is? Don’t tell me Trump doesn’t know what the KKK is.” | “Not only is that wrong, it makes him unelectable,” Rubio said, adding: “How can we grow our party with a nominee who doesn’t know what the KKK is? Don’t tell me Trump doesn’t know what the KKK is.” |
| Rubio has in recent days claimed the mantle of Trump’s arch-rival in the Republican race for president. In the last debate and his rallies since, the senator has eviscerated Trump as a “con artist” and derided his failed business ventures. Trump has hit back with similar mockery and abuse. | Rubio has in recent days claimed the mantle of Trump’s arch-rival in the Republican race for president. In the last debate and his rallies since, the senator has eviscerated Trump as a “con artist” and derided his failed business ventures. Trump has hit back with similar mockery and abuse. |
| Rubio continued to do so on Sunday, drawing a heavily enthusiastic response. | Rubio continued to do so on Sunday, drawing a heavily enthusiastic response. |
| “Remember,” he said. “Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.” | “Remember,” he said. “Friends do not let friends vote for con artists.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.27pm GMT | at 7.27pm GMT |
| 6.01pm GMT | 6.01pm GMT |
| 18:01 | 18:01 |
| Summary | Summary |
| The mood in the Republican party is darker than ever ahead of Super Tuesday, the 12-state election marathon that could lift the GOP and Democratic frontrunners to nearly insurmountable leads. | The mood in the Republican party is darker than ever ahead of Super Tuesday, the 12-state election marathon that could lift the GOP and Democratic frontrunners to nearly insurmountable leads. |
| 5.46pm GMT | 5.46pm GMT |
| 17:46 | 17:46 |
| Trump flips on ex-KKK leader | Trump flips on ex-KKK leader |
| Donald Trump has reversed his statement from earlier this morning, and again disavowed David Duke – like he did on Friday and way back in 2000, when he said “this is not company I wish to keep.” | Donald Trump has reversed his statement from earlier this morning, and again disavowed David Duke – like he did on Friday and way back in 2000, when he said “this is not company I wish to keep.” |
| He still hasn’t said whether he condemns the KKK and other white supremacist groups, as the Anti-Defamation League has requested. | He still hasn’t said whether he condemns the KKK and other white supremacist groups, as the Anti-Defamation League has requested. |
| As I stated at the press conference on Friday regarding David Duke- I disavow. pic.twitter.com/OIXFKPUlz2 | As I stated at the press conference on Friday regarding David Duke- I disavow. pic.twitter.com/OIXFKPUlz2 |
| 5.30pm GMT | 5.30pm GMT |
| 17:30 | 17:30 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| Gawker has a big reveal today, being that it was it which created the Mussolini parody account which Donald Trump retweeted this morning – aptly enough, having been both compared to Hitler by two Mexican presidents and backed by French far-righter Jean-Marie Le Pen yesterday. | Gawker has a big reveal today, being that it was it which created the Mussolini parody account which Donald Trump retweeted this morning – aptly enough, having been both compared to Hitler by two Mexican presidents and backed by French far-righter Jean-Marie Le Pen yesterday. |
| Gawker has also pulled out an old Trump tweet which is perhaps apposite in the circumstances: | Gawker has also pulled out an old Trump tweet which is perhaps apposite in the circumstances: |
| I never fall for scams. I am the only person who immediately walked out of my ‘Ali G’ interview | I never fall for scams. I am the only person who immediately walked out of my ‘Ali G’ interview |
| So there you have it. All right, then. Here’s the interview: | So there you have it. All right, then. Here’s the interview: |
| He does walk out, you know. It’s true. | He does walk out, you know. It’s true. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.09pm GMT | at 6.09pm GMT |
| 4.55pm GMT | 4.55pm GMT |
| 16:55 | 16:55 |
| Martin Pengelly | Martin Pengelly |
| More on Meg Whitman’s excoriating statement about Chris Christie – formerly captain, her captain – and his decision to endorse Donald Trump. | More on Meg Whitman’s excoriating statement about Chris Christie – formerly captain, her captain – and his decision to endorse Donald Trump. |
| The Hewlett-Packard chief executive who served as a co-finance chair of the Christie campaign released a statement to NBC. She said: “Chris Christie’s endorsement of Donald Trump is an astonishing display of political opportunism. Donald Trump is unfit to be president.” | The Hewlett-Packard chief executive who served as a co-finance chair of the Christie campaign released a statement to NBC. She said: “Chris Christie’s endorsement of Donald Trump is an astonishing display of political opportunism. Donald Trump is unfit to be president.” |
| This was in line with what Whitman said in November, when she endorsed Christie and not Carly Fiorina, her predecessor at Hewlett-Packard: “I just think, you know, literally having some experience in politics for the highest office in the land is probably an important criteria.” | This was in line with what Whitman said in November, when she endorsed Christie and not Carly Fiorina, her predecessor at Hewlett-Packard: “I just think, you know, literally having some experience in politics for the highest office in the land is probably an important criteria.” |
| On Sunday, though, she also said: “He is a dishonest demagogue who plays to our worst fears. Trump would take America on a dangerous journey. Christie knows all that and indicated as much many times publicly. The governor is mistaken if he believes he can now count on my support, and I call on Christie’s donors and supporters to reject the governor and Donald Trump outright. | On Sunday, though, she also said: “He is a dishonest demagogue who plays to our worst fears. Trump would take America on a dangerous journey. Christie knows all that and indicated as much many times publicly. The governor is mistaken if he believes he can now count on my support, and I call on Christie’s donors and supporters to reject the governor and Donald Trump outright. |
| “I believe they will. For some of us, principle and country still matter.” | “I believe they will. For some of us, principle and country still matter.” |
| Ouch. On ABC, Christie responded thus: Whitman is “a great friend”, he said, with a different political opinion. | Ouch. On ABC, Christie responded thus: Whitman is “a great friend”, he said, with a different political opinion. |
| “And that’s OK. That’s what makes this country great is that people can have differences of political opinion.” | “And that’s OK. That’s what makes this country great is that people can have differences of political opinion.” |
| 4.24pm GMT | 4.24pm GMT |
| 16:24 | 16:24 |
| Representative Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her post as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee in order to support Bernie Sanders. She made the announcement on the NBC show Meet the Press. | Representative Tulsi Gabbard has resigned from her post as vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee in order to support Bernie Sanders. She made the announcement on the NBC show Meet the Press. |
| “I think it’s most important for us, as we look at our choices as to who our next commander in chief will be, is to recognize the necessity to have a commander in chief who has foresight, who exercises good judgment,” she said. | “I think it’s most important for us, as we look at our choices as to who our next commander in chief will be, is to recognize the necessity to have a commander in chief who has foresight, who exercises good judgment,” she said. |
| Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran and representative for Hawaii, is the fourth member of Congress to endorse Sanders. She elaborated on her decision on the show: “As a veteran and as a soldier I’ve seen firsthand the true cost of war. | Gabbard, an Iraq war veteran and representative for Hawaii, is the fourth member of Congress to endorse Sanders. She elaborated on her decision on the show: “As a veteran and as a soldier I’ve seen firsthand the true cost of war. |
| “I served in a medical unit during my first deployment, where every single day I saw firsthand the very high human cost of that war. I see it in my friends who now, a decade after we’ve come home, are still struggling to get out of a black hole. | “I served in a medical unit during my first deployment, where every single day I saw firsthand the very high human cost of that war. I see it in my friends who now, a decade after we’ve come home, are still struggling to get out of a black hole. |
| “I think it’s most important for us, as we look at our choices as to who our next commander in chief will be, is to recognize the necessity to have a commander in chief who has foresight, exercises good judgment, who looks beyond the consequences, looks at the consequences of the actions they’re looking to take, before they take those actions, so we don’t continue to find ourselves in these failures that have resulted in chaos in the Middle East and so much loss of life.” | “I think it’s most important for us, as we look at our choices as to who our next commander in chief will be, is to recognize the necessity to have a commander in chief who has foresight, exercises good judgment, who looks beyond the consequences, looks at the consequences of the actions they’re looking to take, before they take those actions, so we don’t continue to find ourselves in these failures that have resulted in chaos in the Middle East and so much loss of life.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.35pm GMT | at 4.35pm GMT |
| 4.11pm GMT | 4.11pm GMT |
| 16:11 | 16:11 |
| Back on NBC, Todd asks Sanders about foreign policy, a weak point for the senator compared to Clinton’s long experience as secretary of state. Specifically the NBC host asks about intervention in Libya, and whether Clinton’s hawkish position at the time was the right one. | Back on NBC, Todd asks Sanders about foreign policy, a weak point for the senator compared to Clinton’s long experience as secretary of state. Specifically the NBC host asks about intervention in Libya, and whether Clinton’s hawkish position at the time was the right one. |
| The senator says he has “strong differences of opinion on foreign policy” with Clinton, but that “no one can speculate, nobody knows” what would have happened without western air strikes. | The senator says he has “strong differences of opinion on foreign policy” with Clinton, but that “no one can speculate, nobody knows” what would have happened without western air strikes. |
| “These are terrible dictators, but you’ve got to be thinking about the day after,” Sanders says. Noting that “Isis now has a strong foothold” in Libya, he says “I would’ve done it differently if I were president of the United States. | “These are terrible dictators, but you’ve got to be thinking about the day after,” Sanders says. Noting that “Isis now has a strong foothold” in Libya, he says “I would’ve done it differently if I were president of the United States. |
| “I would’ve worked more patiently, I know it was a difficult situation, but you can’t just go thinking about regime change.” | “I would’ve worked more patiently, I know it was a difficult situation, but you can’t just go thinking about regime change.” |
| He compares the Libyan civil war to one that has raged in Syria for more than four years – and notes that both he and Barack Obama don’t support a no-fly zone that Clinton and many Republicans want. “I fear that can get us entangled more into that war,” he says. | He compares the Libyan civil war to one that has raged in Syria for more than four years – and notes that both he and Barack Obama don’t support a no-fly zone that Clinton and many Republicans want. “I fear that can get us entangled more into that war,” he says. |
| Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has also testified to Congress that a no-fly zone would entail huge numbers of ground troops, massive expenses and a number of dangers. | Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has also testified to Congress that a no-fly zone would entail huge numbers of ground troops, massive expenses and a number of dangers. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.12pm GMT | at 4.12pm GMT |
| 4.06pm GMT | 4.06pm GMT |
| 16:06 | 16:06 |
| Edward Helmore | Edward Helmore |
| More from Ed, who had the pleasure of watching Chris Christie, Trump cheerleader in chief now he’s given up hope of being US commander in chief, who was this morning publicly hammered by one of his own top aides, Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman, for backing the billionaire… | More from Ed, who had the pleasure of watching Chris Christie, Trump cheerleader in chief now he’s given up hope of being US commander in chief, who was this morning publicly hammered by one of his own top aides, Hewlett Packard CEO Meg Whitman, for backing the billionaire… |
| George Stephanopoulos racked Chris Christie on how he could reconcile past criticism of his new friend, Donald Trump. The New Jersey governor said their past divergence on everything from immigration to social security reform to banning Muslims were small disagreements. | George Stephanopoulos racked Chris Christie on how he could reconcile past criticism of his new friend, Donald Trump. The New Jersey governor said their past divergence on everything from immigration to social security reform to banning Muslims were small disagreements. |
| “I ran against the guy, so of course I disagreed with him on some things,” he said. Christie then said Trump had backed off his threat to ban Muslims from the US: “It’s just one piece of an overall national security puzzle.” | “I ran against the guy, so of course I disagreed with him on some things,” he said. Christie then said Trump had backed off his threat to ban Muslims from the US: “It’s just one piece of an overall national security puzzle.” |
| On Trump’s promised US-Mexico wall? “He’ll use the trade relationship to get them to do something on immigration. There are all types of appropriate conversations between countries when then time comes.” | On Trump’s promised US-Mexico wall? “He’ll use the trade relationship to get them to do something on immigration. There are all types of appropriate conversations between countries when then time comes.” |
| On social security? “He’ll give appropriate answers when the time comes.” | On social security? “He’ll give appropriate answers when the time comes.” |
| These were minor disagreements, Christie said, compared to what would happen when | These were minor disagreements, Christie said, compared to what would happen when |
| Hillary Clinton became the Democratic nominee. “She’s moving so far to the left to beat Bernie Sanders,” he said, “I don’t know which one is the socialist.” | Hillary Clinton became the Democratic nominee. “She’s moving so far to the left to beat Bernie Sanders,” he said, “I don’t know which one is the socialist.” |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.19pm GMT | at 4.19pm GMT |
| 4.05pm GMT | 4.05pm GMT |
| 16:05 | 16:05 |
| Sanders: we got decimated in South Carolina | Sanders: we got decimated in South Carolina |
| Bernie Sanders is next on Meet the Press. Host Chuck Todd asks Sanders what happened in South Carolina, where he lost by an extraordinary 40-plus-point margin. | Bernie Sanders is next on Meet the Press. Host Chuck Todd asks Sanders what happened in South Carolina, where he lost by an extraordinary 40-plus-point margin. |
| “Well, we got decimated,” Sanders says. “It was pathetic, from our perspective. But by the way, the glimmer of positive news for our group was we won the 29 and younger.” | “Well, we got decimated,” Sanders says. “It was pathetic, from our perspective. But by the way, the glimmer of positive news for our group was we won the 29 and younger.” |
| He says there’s “no question, secretary Clinton won that state and she won it big.” Sanders says he’s hopeful for Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts and Vermont on Super Tuesday. | He says there’s “no question, secretary Clinton won that state and she won it big.” Sanders says he’s hopeful for Minnesota, Colorado, Massachusetts and Vermont on Super Tuesday. |
| “We have come a long, long way fighting for the message that we’re going to end income inequality, and we’re going to mend a broken criminal justice system,” fixing campaign finance, etc – Sanders touches on the central platforms of his campaign. | “We have come a long, long way fighting for the message that we’re going to end income inequality, and we’re going to mend a broken criminal justice system,” fixing campaign finance, etc – Sanders touches on the central platforms of his campaign. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.13pm GMT | at 4.13pm GMT |