Five states are holding primaries and causes today as the leading presidential contenders, Hillary Clinton and Donald Drumpf, seek to extend their leads. On the Republican side voters are down to just four choices since retired brain surgeon Ben Carson officially suspended his campaign yesterday.
Up for grabs are 155 GOP delegates in four states, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Maine, and 126 delegates for the Democrats in Louisiana, Kansas and Nebraska. Predictions for the outcomes have been hindered by sparse polling but most surveys show Clinton and Drumpf with substantial leads.
Although the five states are less well traveled by the campaigns than were Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, the contests will provide an important test of how the candidates appeal to voters in the Northeast, the South and the middle of the country.
The outcomes could also prove to be unpredictable. Other than Louisiana’s, the elections on Saturday are caucuses, and Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton have been weaker in caucus states than they have been in primary states. It also remains to be seen which way supporters of Ben Carson will break since he officially dropped out of the Republican race on Friday.
Another potential hitch for Mr. Trump is that the Republican states are all closed elections, meaning only registered Republicans can vote. This could limit the impact of his crossover appeal with Democrats and independents, who can vote in the Republican race in states that have open primaries.
Sunday, Maine will hold their caucus for the Democrats and Puerto Rico holds its primary. Sunday night the Democratic candidates will hold a debate in Flint, Michigan.
On a final note, we will miss Ben Carson not for his wisdom but for the laughter he provided with his incoherent comments, responses to questions and rambling speeches. Thanks, Ben. Enjoy your retirement.
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Early returns from the Republican caucus wit 25% of the precincts reporting Sen. Ted Cruz has a commanding lead with 49.5%. Drumpf follows far behind with 25.6%; Sen. Marco Rubio in 3rd with 13.5 % and Gov. John Kasich ln last with 9.5%.
There is no information about the Democratic race.
The caucus doors close at 5 PM ET
This is the first time Kansas has used the caucus system.
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Maine results are now starting to come in. With just 5% reporting, Sen. Cruz has the lead (48%); Drumpf (35%); Rubio (8.6%) and Gov. Kasich (7.4%).
The support for Cruz may be backlash against Gov. Paul LePage who endorsed Drumpf after his buddy Gov. Chris Christie (R-NJ) dropped out. LePage is roundly disliked by Democrats and Republicans.
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Ted Cruz has won the 2016 CPAC straw poll (40%); Rubio (30%); Drumpf (15%); and Kasich (8%)..
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Ted Cruz has been declared the winner of the Kansas caucus. He wins 40 delegates
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Bernie Sanders is the winner of the Kansas Caucus
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Ted Cruz as been declared the winner of the Republican Caucus in Maine.
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NBC News is projecting Bernie Sanders the winner in Nebraska
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Hillary Clinton has been declared the winner in Louisiana
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NBC News is projecting Drumpf the winner of the Louisiana primary.
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It won’t be until sometime tomorrow that we will have the new delegate count for tonight’s races. Tomorrow are the Maine Democratic Caucus; the primary election in Puerto Rico.and the Democratic debate in Flint, MI.