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| Republicans prepare for final debate before Super Tuesday – campaign live | Republicans prepare for final debate before Super Tuesday – campaign live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.46pm GMT | |
| 17:46 | |
| Sabrina Siddiqui | |
| Tennessee governor Bill Haslam has announced that he is backing Marco Rubio, marking the latest high-profile endorsement for the Florida senator’s campaign. | |
| “To win in November, conservatives need a candidate who inspires Americans from all backgrounds,” Haslam wrote in a statement. | |
| “With Marco standing next to Hillary Clinton on a debate stage, the choice between the future and the past will be clear to every American. Marco has the innovative policy agenda to reclaim the American Dream for all our people, and his conservative ideas will bring the Republican Party – and America – into the future.” | |
| A growing number of Republican lawmakers have rushed to Rubio’s corner since Jeb Bush exited after the South Carolina primary. Many continue to believe the senator is the only Republican candidate remaining who can stop Donald Trump from running away with the nomination. | |
| Rubio made a pit-stop in Tennessee, which is among the states that will go to the polls on Super Tuesday, last weekend. Earlier this week, he also earned the support of Asa Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas, another March 1 voting state. | |
| 5.33pm GMT | 5.33pm GMT |
| 17:33 | 17:33 |
| Looks like Donald Trump might be preparing to release his tax returns after all... | Looks like Donald Trump might be preparing to release his tax returns after all... |
| Signing a recent tax return- isn't this ridiculous? pic.twitter.com/UdwqF4iZIZ | Signing a recent tax return- isn't this ridiculous? pic.twitter.com/UdwqF4iZIZ |
| 5.06pm GMT | 5.06pm GMT |
| 17:06 | 17:06 |
| Richard Wolffe | Richard Wolffe |
| Ted Cruz’s campaign is flailing – and the Alamo could be his last stand, writes the Guardian’s Richard Wolffe: | Ted Cruz’s campaign is flailing – and the Alamo could be his last stand, writes the Guardian’s Richard Wolffe: |
| Ted Cruz usually exudes the self-righteous certitude of a man who knows he is heading towards both victory and heaven. He isn’t just running a campaign for president, but a faith-propelled Cruzade to restore Judeo-Christian values and Reaganomics to Washington. | Ted Cruz usually exudes the self-righteous certitude of a man who knows he is heading towards both victory and heaven. He isn’t just running a campaign for president, but a faith-propelled Cruzade to restore Judeo-Christian values and Reaganomics to Washington. |
| But at a “victory” party in a mostly empty YMCA hall in Las Vegas – a city that was built on sin – you could sense the doubt and despair creeping in. After Donald Trump’s third resounding victory, the Cruzade against the New York infidel has less than a week to prove itself before Super Tuesday. | But at a “victory” party in a mostly empty YMCA hall in Las Vegas – a city that was built on sin – you could sense the doubt and despair creeping in. After Donald Trump’s third resounding victory, the Cruzade against the New York infidel has less than a week to prove itself before Super Tuesday. |
| “I kind of halfway expected this,” said Steve Perry, a downbeat Cruz supporter from Las Vegas. “I’m not giving up. As people drop out, there’s still hope for Ted Cruz. If Carson drops out, and Kasich drops out, hopefully there will be a new game.” | “I kind of halfway expected this,” said Steve Perry, a downbeat Cruz supporter from Las Vegas. “I’m not giving up. As people drop out, there’s still hope for Ted Cruz. If Carson drops out, and Kasich drops out, hopefully there will be a new game.” |
| This is the game of alternate reality that is currently playing out among all the non-Trump campaigns in the aftermath of the four early voting states. If everyone else drops out, maybe we can win. How or when their rivals might drop out is never explained. | This is the game of alternate reality that is currently playing out among all the non-Trump campaigns in the aftermath of the four early voting states. If everyone else drops out, maybe we can win. How or when their rivals might drop out is never explained. |
| Related: Ted Cruz's campaign is flailing – and the Alamo could be his last stand | Related: Ted Cruz's campaign is flailing – and the Alamo could be his last stand |
| 4.37pm GMT | 4.37pm GMT |
| 16:37 | 16:37 |
| Black Lives Matter protesters interrupt Hillary Clinton event | Black Lives Matter protesters interrupt Hillary Clinton event |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Two activists with the Black Lives Matter movement interrupted a private fundraising event in Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday night, demanding that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton account for language she used as first lady about the need to “bring [at-risk youth] to heel.” | Two activists with the Black Lives Matter movement interrupted a private fundraising event in Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday night, demanding that Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton account for language she used as first lady about the need to “bring [at-risk youth] to heel.” |
| First reported by the Huffington Post, the protest began after Clinton told attendees about the need for police body cameras to stem police violence against members of the public. At this point, activist Ashley Williams stepped forward and unfurled a banner reading “We have to bring them to heel.” | First reported by the Huffington Post, the protest began after Clinton told attendees about the need for police body cameras to stem police violence against members of the public. At this point, activist Ashley Williams stepped forward and unfurled a banner reading “We have to bring them to heel.” |
| The banner’s text refers to a speech Clinton made in 1994 in support of her husband’s crime bill, the passage of which has since been criticized as having expanded the prison system and imposed unduly harsh sentencing on non-violent offenders. | The banner’s text refers to a speech Clinton made in 1994 in support of her husband’s crime bill, the passage of which has since been criticized as having expanded the prison system and imposed unduly harsh sentencing on non-violent offenders. |
| “I’m not a super predator, Hillary Clinton,” Williams said once Clinton noticed the sign, paraphrasing another line from the then-first lady’s speech. “Will you apologize to black people for mass incarceration?” | “I’m not a super predator, Hillary Clinton,” Williams said once Clinton noticed the sign, paraphrasing another line from the then-first lady’s speech. “Will you apologize to black people for mass incarceration?” |
| Williams told the Huffington Post that she and another protestor made a $500 donation to the Clinton campaign in order to attend the event, held in a private residence with roughly 100 attendees. Williams was eventually removed from the fundraiser by Secret Service agents. | Williams told the Huffington Post that she and another protestor made a $500 donation to the Clinton campaign in order to attend the event, held in a private residence with roughly 100 attendees. Williams was eventually removed from the fundraiser by Secret Service agents. |
| “Hillary Clinton has a pattern of throwing the Black community under the bus when it serves her politically,” Williams said in a statement before the event. “She called our boys ‘super-predators’ in ’96, then she race-baited when running against Obama in ‘08, now she’s a lifelong civil rights activist. I just want to know which Hillary is running for President, the one from ’96, ’08, or the new Hillary?” | “Hillary Clinton has a pattern of throwing the Black community under the bus when it serves her politically,” Williams said in a statement before the event. “She called our boys ‘super-predators’ in ’96, then she race-baited when running against Obama in ‘08, now she’s a lifelong civil rights activist. I just want to know which Hillary is running for President, the one from ’96, ’08, or the new Hillary?” |
| Clinton has distanced herself from her husband’s more controversial initiatives on crime, and has called for an end to mass incarceration. | Clinton has distanced herself from her husband’s more controversial initiatives on crime, and has called for an end to mass incarceration. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.43pm GMT | at 4.43pm GMT |
| 4.17pm GMT | 4.17pm GMT |
| 16:17 | 16:17 |
| Poll alert! | Poll alert! |
| So much for all of that talk about Donald Trump’s “high floor and low ceiling”: The billionaire frontrunner is cleaning up in Florida, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that shows Trump leading the state by double-digits highs over native son Marco Rubio. | So much for all of that talk about Donald Trump’s “high floor and low ceiling”: The billionaire frontrunner is cleaning up in Florida, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll that shows Trump leading the state by double-digits highs over native son Marco Rubio. |
| Trump is leading the pack with 44% support among Sunshine State Republicans, over Rubio’s comparatively embarrassing 28%. The poll, conducted after Trump’s double-digit victory in the South Carolina primary and during his romp in the Nevada caucuses, indicates that the candidate’s momentum has only increased as the Republican field has narrowed. | Trump is leading the pack with 44% support among Sunshine State Republicans, over Rubio’s comparatively embarrassing 28%. The poll, conducted after Trump’s double-digit victory in the South Carolina primary and during his romp in the Nevada caucuses, indicates that the candidate’s momentum has only increased as the Republican field has narrowed. |
| Behind Rubio, the numbers get depressing. Texas senator Ted Cruz is at 12%, with Ohio governor John Kasich at 7% and retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 4%. According to the poll, Trump leads among men (49%) and women (39%). | Behind Rubio, the numbers get depressing. Texas senator Ted Cruz is at 12%, with Ohio governor John Kasich at 7% and retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson at 4%. According to the poll, Trump leads among men (49%) and women (39%). |
| “The size and shape of Trump’s lead is impressive,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. “He leads in every age group by 9 to 19 percentage points. He does better among men than among women and, despite being a New York multi-billionaire, he leads among those who identify with the Tea Party.” | “The size and shape of Trump’s lead is impressive,” said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. “He leads in every age group by 9 to 19 percentage points. He does better among men than among women and, despite being a New York multi-billionaire, he leads among those who identify with the Tea Party.” |
| Florida is the most popular girl at school when it comes to Republican primaries: The state has the largest delegate count of any winner-take-all primary, which means that if Trump’s numbers hold, he could walk away with 99 delegates. “If senator Rubio can’t win in his own home state, it is difficult to see how he can win elsewhere,” said Brown. | Florida is the most popular girl at school when it comes to Republican primaries: The state has the largest delegate count of any winner-take-all primary, which means that if Trump’s numbers hold, he could walk away with 99 delegates. “If senator Rubio can’t win in his own home state, it is difficult to see how he can win elsewhere,” said Brown. |
| 3.47pm GMT | 3.47pm GMT |
| 15:47 | 15:47 |
| House Republicans attempt to unite behind someone who isn't Donald Trump | House Republicans attempt to unite behind someone who isn't Donald Trump |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| A senior Republican in the house of representatives is pushing for his colleagues to join him in the Anyone But Trump movement, asking them to sign a letter urging either Florida senator Marco Rubio or Texas senator Ted Cruz to suspend their campaigns for the good of the Republican party. | A senior Republican in the house of representatives is pushing for his colleagues to join him in the Anyone But Trump movement, asking them to sign a letter urging either Florida senator Marco Rubio or Texas senator Ted Cruz to suspend their campaigns for the good of the Republican party. |
| Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican who has served in Congress since 2003, passed the letter to his Republican colleagues last night. The letter - addressed to senators Rubio and Cruz - calls on the duo to form a “unity ticket,” with one serving as the party’s presidential candidate and the other pairing up as their vice presidential nominee. | Trent Franks, an Arizona Republican who has served in Congress since 2003, passed the letter to his Republican colleagues last night. The letter - addressed to senators Rubio and Cruz - calls on the duo to form a “unity ticket,” with one serving as the party’s presidential candidate and the other pairing up as their vice presidential nominee. |
| “We believe that your love of country and stalwart service in the conservative movement compels you to this end,” the letter says, on behalf of “the undersigned.” | “We believe that your love of country and stalwart service in the conservative movement compels you to this end,” the letter says, on behalf of “the undersigned.” |
| “The choice now in front of Republicans and conservatives alike is whether to allow our anger with the status quo to cause us to jump from the frying pan into the fire and cast our lots with a man who affirms he believes in many of the ideals we hold dear and trust that he, a self-proclaimed dealmaker and a man whose record is anything but conservative, will make no deals that will violate our deepest and most cherished principles,” the letter says, an aggressive line to take against the prohibitive favorite for the Republican nomination. | “The choice now in front of Republicans and conservatives alike is whether to allow our anger with the status quo to cause us to jump from the frying pan into the fire and cast our lots with a man who affirms he believes in many of the ideals we hold dear and trust that he, a self-proclaimed dealmaker and a man whose record is anything but conservative, will make no deals that will violate our deepest and most cherished principles,” the letter says, an aggressive line to take against the prohibitive favorite for the Republican nomination. |
| “Through rivalry, disunity, and baseless hatred in our ranks, conservatives are now in danger of splintering our voice and ensuring that the Republican Party’s nominee in the general election is Mr. Trump who is incontrovertibly, the weakest General Election candidate in the Republican field with the strongest probability of allowing Hillary Clinton to become President.” | “Through rivalry, disunity, and baseless hatred in our ranks, conservatives are now in danger of splintering our voice and ensuring that the Republican Party’s nominee in the general election is Mr. Trump who is incontrovertibly, the weakest General Election candidate in the Republican field with the strongest probability of allowing Hillary Clinton to become President.” |
| The call for party unity against Trump is even more remarkable considering its source. Franks is a charter member of the House Freedom Caucus - a group of the 42 most conservative members of Congress that helped instigate the resignation of former speaker John Boehner for being insufficiently conservative. The resulting leadership crisis nearly tore the house apart. | The call for party unity against Trump is even more remarkable considering its source. Franks is a charter member of the House Freedom Caucus - a group of the 42 most conservative members of Congress that helped instigate the resignation of former speaker John Boehner for being insufficiently conservative. The resulting leadership crisis nearly tore the house apart. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.04pm GMT | at 4.04pm GMT |
| 3.09pm GMT | 3.09pm GMT |
| 15:09 | 15:09 |
| The first day of March will have another name this year: Super Tuesday. But what exactly does that mean? | The first day of March will have another name this year: Super Tuesday. But what exactly does that mean? |
| Twelve states and one US territory will head to the polls, marking the biggest single day of voting during the primary election cycle. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump will all be duking it out for delegates, and the day can make or break a presidential bid. But the answer to which of the hopefuls will emerge victorious is still very much up in the air. | Twelve states and one US territory will head to the polls, marking the biggest single day of voting during the primary election cycle. Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump will all be duking it out for delegates, and the day can make or break a presidential bid. But the answer to which of the hopefuls will emerge victorious is still very much up in the air. |
| 2.43pm GMT | 2.43pm GMT |
| 14:43 | 14:43 |
| Lauren Gambino | Lauren Gambino |
| Once again, Donald Trump stole the show without actually appearing on the show, reports the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino: | Once again, Donald Trump stole the show without actually appearing on the show, reports the Guardian’s Lauren Gambino: |
| During Fox News’ two-hour voter summit on Wednesday night, the four Republican hopefuls working frantically to keep pace with Trump took turns pitching themselves as the best alternative to the billionaire frontrunner. | During Fox News’ two-hour voter summit on Wednesday night, the four Republican hopefuls working frantically to keep pace with Trump took turns pitching themselves as the best alternative to the billionaire frontrunner. |
| Texas senator Ted Cruz positioned himself as the best general election candidate, citing polling that showed he would beat former secretary of state Hillary Clinton should she capture the Democratic nomination. | Texas senator Ted Cruz positioned himself as the best general election candidate, citing polling that showed he would beat former secretary of state Hillary Clinton should she capture the Democratic nomination. |
| “Donald consistently loses to Hillary. I consistently beat Hillary,” Cruz told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly during the live interview in Houston. | “Donald consistently loses to Hillary. I consistently beat Hillary,” Cruz told Fox News’ Megyn Kelly during the live interview in Houston. |
| “And so the question right now is how do we prevent nominating a candidate who loses the general election – or, for that matter, if Donald wins the general election, who the heck knows what he’d do as president?” | “And so the question right now is how do we prevent nominating a candidate who loses the general election – or, for that matter, if Donald wins the general election, who the heck knows what he’d do as president?” |
| Related: Ted Cruz: 'Who knows what the heck Donald Trump would do as president?' | Related: Ted Cruz: 'Who knows what the heck Donald Trump would do as president?' |
| 2.14pm GMT | 2.14pm GMT |
| 14:14 | 14:14 |
| David Smith | David Smith |
| Liberal activists have condemned reports that Barack Obama is considering a Republican politician to fill the contentious vacancy on the supreme court, saying such a move would be “downright absurd,” reports the Guardian’s David Smith in Washington: | Liberal activists have condemned reports that Barack Obama is considering a Republican politician to fill the contentious vacancy on the supreme court, saying such a move would be “downright absurd,” reports the Guardian’s David Smith in Washington: |
| Brian Sandoval, the governor of Nevada and a former district court judge, is being vetted by the White House as a potential nominee to succeed the late Antonin Scalia, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday. | Brian Sandoval, the governor of Nevada and a former district court judge, is being vetted by the White House as a potential nominee to succeed the late Antonin Scalia, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday. |
| Naming Sandoval could be seen as a canny maneuver to call the bluff of Republicans who have vowed to neither confirm nor even hold hearings for Obama’s nominee, contending that the decision should rest with the next president. | Naming Sandoval could be seen as a canny maneuver to call the bluff of Republicans who have vowed to neither confirm nor even hold hearings for Obama’s nominee, contending that the decision should rest with the next president. |
| But Democracy for America, a grassroots political organization founded by prominent Democrat Howard Dean, said Sandoval’s rightwing record might oblige it to call on Senate Democrats to block his appointment. | But Democracy for America, a grassroots political organization founded by prominent Democrat Howard Dean, said Sandoval’s rightwing record might oblige it to call on Senate Democrats to block his appointment. |
| Related: Brian Sandoval for supreme court seat is 'downright absurd', liberal activists say | Related: Brian Sandoval for supreme court seat is 'downright absurd', liberal activists say |
| 2.07pm GMT | 2.07pm GMT |
| 14:07 | 14:07 |
| Poll: Donald Trump is the least-liked candidate among Latinos | Poll: Donald Trump is the least-liked candidate among Latinos |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Republican frontrunner Donald Trump – a phrase that never ceases to blow our collective minds – has moved to the top of the heap in the race for the Republican nomination in large part because of his stance on immigration, but a major new poll of Latino voters shows that his rhetoric on the issue has earned him the highest negative ratings among the voting bloc of any Republican candidate. | Republican frontrunner Donald Trump – a phrase that never ceases to blow our collective minds – has moved to the top of the heap in the race for the Republican nomination in large part because of his stance on immigration, but a major new poll of Latino voters shows that his rhetoric on the issue has earned him the highest negative ratings among the voting bloc of any Republican candidate. |
| According to a Washington Post-Univision News poll, eight in 10 Latino voters view Trump unfavorably, including seven in 10 who have a “very unfavorable” impression of Trump. That makes him nearly twice as unpopular among Latino voters as Ted Cruz, the second-least liked candidate in the survey. | According to a Washington Post-Univision News poll, eight in 10 Latino voters view Trump unfavorably, including seven in 10 who have a “very unfavorable” impression of Trump. That makes him nearly twice as unpopular among Latino voters as Ted Cruz, the second-least liked candidate in the survey. |
| On the Democratic side, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton leads 2 to 1 among Latino Democrats over opponent Bernie Sanders, a major lead going into the Super Tuesday caucuses and primaries next week. Whether that support translates into votes, however, remains to be seen – Clinton lost Latino voters in last Saturday’s Nevada caucuses by eight points. | On the Democratic side, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton leads 2 to 1 among Latino Democrats over opponent Bernie Sanders, a major lead going into the Super Tuesday caucuses and primaries next week. Whether that support translates into votes, however, remains to be seen – Clinton lost Latino voters in last Saturday’s Nevada caucuses by eight points. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.19pm GMT | at 2.19pm GMT |
| 1.39pm GMT | 1.39pm GMT |
| 13:39 | 13:39 |
| Scott Bixby | Scott Bixby |
| Good morning, and welcome to the February 25 edition of the Guardian’s live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. | Good morning, and welcome to the February 25 edition of the Guardian’s live-wire coverage of the 2016 race for the White House. |
| Tonight, CNN is hosting the final Republican presidential debate ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, in which the Republican citizens of 11 states will put nearly half of the delegates needed to win the party’s nomination into play. (Those states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.) As the final nationally televised event featuring all five of the remaining candidates – yes, even Donald Trump will be there tonight – before those votes are held, the debate is the last chance for candidates to try to halt the Trump juggernaut. | Tonight, CNN is hosting the final Republican presidential debate ahead of the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses, in which the Republican citizens of 11 states will put nearly half of the delegates needed to win the party’s nomination into play. (Those states: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.) As the final nationally televised event featuring all five of the remaining candidates – yes, even Donald Trump will be there tonight – before those votes are held, the debate is the last chance for candidates to try to halt the Trump juggernaut. |
| On the Democratic side, senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont will hold rallies in Ohio and in Chicago, where he will appear on Hardball With Chris Matthews on MSNBC. He will also be in Flint, Michigan, where he will participate in a town forum over the city’s water crisis. | On the Democratic side, senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont will hold rallies in Ohio and in Chicago, where he will appear on Hardball With Chris Matthews on MSNBC. He will also be in Flint, Michigan, where he will participate in a town forum over the city’s water crisis. |
| Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will be making a mad dash today, with four speaking engagements scheduled across South Carolina ahead of the state’s Democratic primary this Saturday. Her opponent has largely written off the state, where Clinton is expected to dominate in her first decisive win of the primary campaign. | Former secretary of state Hillary Clinton will be making a mad dash today, with four speaking engagements scheduled across South Carolina ahead of the state’s Democratic primary this Saturday. Her opponent has largely written off the state, where Clinton is expected to dominate in her first decisive win of the primary campaign. |
| Our correspondents Adam Gabbatt, Lauren Gambino and Lucia Graves are all in South Carolina, while Ben Jacobs is in Houston. | Our correspondents Adam Gabbatt, Lauren Gambino and Lucia Graves are all in South Carolina, while Ben Jacobs is in Houston. |
| Did you catch last night’s | Did you catch last night’s |
| debate | debate |
| , no, | , no, |
| town hall event | town hall event |
| , no, “voter summit” on Fox News? If not – and if the ratings are any indication, you didn’t – here’s a rundown of the Megyn Kelly-hosted event in Houston, where four of the five remaining Republican candidates for the party’s presidential nomination took questions from the Kelly File host and from assembled Texas voters: | , no, “voter summit” on Fox News? If not – and if the ratings are any indication, you didn’t – here’s a rundown of the Megyn Kelly-hosted event in Houston, where four of the five remaining Republican candidates for the party’s presidential nomination took questions from the Kelly File host and from assembled Texas voters: |
| Stay put for all this and more throughout the day. | Stay put for all this and more throughout the day. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 2.09pm GMT | at 2.09pm GMT |