This campaign season is likely confusing to the majority of Americans. Just a short time ago, Hillary Clinton was leading Bernie Sanders in Nevada by 40 points. Today’s caucus gave her a three-to-six percent victory, depending on which poll you believe. How did that happen. Actually it’s easy to explain, but I’ll get to that later.

In South Carolina, it is apparent that Donald Trump won by a larger margin than the polls predicted. In second and third place were Cruz and Rubio who were nearly tied at the last exit poll.

Jeb Bush, who ‘pulled every trick he could think of out of his bag,’ finished a dismal fifth; He received just 8.4 percent of votes. I’m still not sure what he was thinking, asking the worst president in our nation’s history to campaign for him. Politicians continue to believe that American voters are ‘stupid.’

Next is the GOP Nevada caucus on the 23^rd of February; Trump holds a commanding lead; he more than doubles his lead over Cruz, 42 percent to 20.

Super Tuesday will likely decide the nominees for November’s election. This happens on March 1^st, less than two weeks away.

Although I still support Bernie Sanders, this is where reality sets in. Hillary Clinton has a large lead in South Carolina and ten states on ‘Super Tuesday,’ with Massachusetts voters and his home state of Vermont being the only states favoring Sanders. (Colorado and Minnesota were not included in the polls.)

Because the GOP has multiple candidates, the polls are incomplete. However, Trump’s national lead remains intact.

Now to what it all means.

For the Democrats, Sanders won the northern part of Nevada, but Clinton trounced him in the two largest southern cities, Las Vegas and Henderson. The south has far more minority voters which has proven to be Clinton’s strength.

Once again, Trump’s victory reveals the displeasure with those presently holding office in Washington. The question for Republicans is; ‘will a huge victory in South Carolina propel Trump to win the majority on ‘Super Tuesday?’

A historical note; with the exception of Mitt Romney, in modern history, every Republican who won South Carolina received the party’s nomination. Newt Gingrich defeated Romney by 40 to 27 percent in 2012.

For Hillary Clinton, one question remains; will supporters of Bernie Sanders support Hillary in the general election? Will groups historically blasé about elections go to the polls in November? Millennials have been some of Sanders’ strongest supporters, but will they rally behind Hillary?

Clinton has a lot of work to do. Senator Sanders’ message was clear; America needs a huge change. Can she convince me, or other Sanders supporters that she is ready to adopt his cause?

As for Republicans, Trump appears to be on his way to the GOP nomination. 75 percent of South Carolinians consider themselves ‘evangelicals,’ and Cruz and Rubio failed to capture their votes; Trump had a larger percentage than either of them.

A huge victory for Trump Tuesday may give him the impetus to dominate all others in the next few months.

As for Bush; leave quietly, while you can. You never had a chance, and it’s not just your last name that defeated you.

Op-Ed

By James Turnage

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Photo Courtesy of DonkeyHotey

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