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| Clinton takes pointed jab at Trump in South Carolina victory speech – campaign live | Clinton takes pointed jab at Trump in South Carolina victory speech – campaign live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.39am GMT | |
| 01:39 | |
| John Stoehr | |
| Momentum can be an elusive thing. John Stoehr wonders: does Hillary Clinton finally have it? | |
| The margin of victory for Hillary Clinton in South Carolina – the spread right now is more than 50 points – makes it look like she has all the momentum in the Democratic primary. But she already had Big Mo, even as she took a loss in New Hampshire. | |
| Even as Bernie Sanders was winning there, he was losing. Gallup released a new national poll on Friday showing that Clinton’s favorability climbed during the New Hampshire primary. She now has a 55% favoribility rating. That’s a 10-point jump over the last Gallup poll, in January. | |
| What’s going on? Most likely Clinton’s favoribility was suffering as some Democrats considered Sanders. But as the primary season has heated up, Democrats have looked past the Vermont senator and toward the general election. And with that, Clinton’s favorables have risen. | |
| Expect that to increase, not too much but a little more, as the primary season comes to a head. And as Clinton consolidates her hold on the nomination, the argument that Sanders is the better opponent to Donald Trump will appear less and less prudent. | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.43am GMT | |
| 1.35am GMT | |
| 01:35 | |
| Megan Carpentier | |
| Megan Carpentier is in Minnesota, at a Hillary Clinton phone bank in St Paul… | |
| Crowded in a conference room in the AFSME building in South St Paul, Megan writes, a group of Clinton phone bankers found themselves with some time on their hands after the AP called South Carolina for Hillary Clinton shortly after 6pm local time. | |
| So they spent it grilling fellow phone-banker Jason Collins, a former Minnesota Timberwolves player who became the first NBA player to come out as gay, on everything from his shoe size (17) to how he survives commercial airline travel (politely asking fellow travelers not to recline their seats). | |
| Collins, who attended Stanford University with Chelsea Clinton, had been stumping for her in several states and spent the day door-knocking and phone-banking for the candidate in Minnesota before heading for a flight home. | |
| Related: NBA center Jason Collins becomes first openly gay player in major US sports | |
| Meanwhile, with no nail-biting to do, the assembled volunteers for Clinton (who were not necessarily affiliated with the union), cracked some Diet Cokes, peeled a few clementines and watched Clinton’s victory speech on an old IBM laptop, cheering her line that “tomorrow this campaign goes national” and nodding along with their favorite policy positions. | |
| But when she said “We don’t need to make America great again, America has never stopped being great” – a references to Donald Trump’s slogan – they all hollered. | |
| And then they walked into the next room, sat down and continued the work of “getting out the caucus” by calling their fellow Minnesotans. | |
| (After, of course, discussing how much they loved her speech.) | |
| Updated | |
| at 1.35am GMT | |
| 1.31am GMT | |
| 01:31 | |
| Ben Jacobs | |
| Ben Jacobs, ever-intrepid political reporter, has been with Ben Carson in Houston. In the rather sweary maelstrom of the Republican campaign, the mild-mannered and now consistently low-polling former neurosurgeon is still trying to maintain his dignity. It isn’t proving very easy. Ben writes: | |
| In a campaign event at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Ben Carson used some of his strongest language yet about the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, albeit while still taking pains to avoid mentioning Donald Trump by name. | |
| In a question and answer session, a voter asked Carson about “a systematic failure in the Republican Party … where Donald Trump is buying votes”. | |
| Carson’s response: “‘Right now people are making decisions based on anger and fear and anyone who knows human nature can tell you that when you make decisions based on anger and fear they tend to be bad decisions.” | |
| He continued: “The real question is are American people going to awaken and recognize what’s going on. I believe the answer to that yes. I do not believe that we are quite that dense … if we were to continue in the vein we are going in right now, yes we would make very very bad mistake.” | |
| In a brief interview with the Guardian, Carson was careful not to mention Trump by name. He said he had meant “dense enough to base our decisions on fear and anger as opposed to evidence and fact”. | |
| Carson also told the Guardian he felt confident about his prospects in the Super Tuesday primaries on 1 March. He said his campaign would do “as good as possible. I am looking forward to doing much better than recent polling”. | |
| Carson is polling in fifth among the five remaining candidates for the Republican nomination. He is also struggling in polls of the 12 states holding Republican primaries on Super Tuesday. | |
| 1.20am GMT | |
| 01:20 | |
| What Donald Trump is up to tonight… | |
| Adam Gabbatt | |
| The Republican race is, of course, continuing, and Adam Gabbatt is with the Republican frontrunner in Memphis, Tennessee for a rally in an aircraft hangar. | |
| “Trump’s plane taxied past the open hangar to huge cheers from the crowd,” Adam writes. “Dramatic music played as the door opened and Trump emerged with New Jersey governor Chris Christie.” | |
| Here’s what happened earlier in the day at a similar event, after Christie’s introductory speech. It’s a bit awkward. | |
| Undaunted, Adam continues: | |
| The pair walked straight to a Trump-branded podium. After a brief introduction from Christie – most of it spent laying into Marco Rubio – Trump took the podium and launched into his now-familiar address. | |
| He ticked off: Rubio’s alleged excess sweating, Mexico building a wall, his business being very successful, politicians being liars, China, and companies being forced to build things in America | |
| At one point Trump, who is projected to win in Tennessee on Super Tuesday, talked about how he is portrayed as pugnacious and how his supporters are often seen as disenfranchised and furious. | |
| “I’m not an angry person,” he said. “And you’re not angry people.” | |
| In the crowd, the evidence suggested otherwise. A man holding up a sign which said “Make America hate again” was quickly rounded on. | |
| As the crowd chanted “Trump, Trump”, a red-faced man snatched the sign and ripped it in half. The protester was ejected, with an accomplice. | |
| An angry man just ripped up this protester's sign at Trump's event https://t.co/1WPyslXdnS | |
| Before the event there had been the feeling of a funfair or a music festival. There were stalls selling Trump-themed tat, a line of portable toilets and a burger van offering Trump burgers: “100% American beef, 100% American cheese”. | |
| Also available were “Bernie Sanders pork nachos” and a “Ted Cruz Canadian bacon burger”. Under the “Canadian burger” text was an admission: “We lied about the Canadian bacon.” | |
| 1.02am GMT | 1.02am GMT |
| 01:02 | 01:02 |
| Hillary Clinton speaks in Columbia | Hillary Clinton speaks in Columbia |
| And here she goes. She starts off, rather hoarse, with thanks and tells the crowd they have sent a message to America. | And here she goes. She starts off, rather hoarse, with thanks and tells the crowd they have sent a message to America. |
| “When we stand together there is no barrier too big to break,” she says, before congratulating Bernie Sanders. “Tomorrow, this campaign goes national,” she adds, to cheers. “We’re not taking anything and anyone for granted.” | “When we stand together there is no barrier too big to break,” she says, before congratulating Bernie Sanders. “Tomorrow, this campaign goes national,” she adds, to cheers. “We’re not taking anything and anyone for granted.” |
| She calls Jim Clyburn, who joined her on the campaign trail, South Carolina’s champion in Congress and promises to work with him to carry on the work of President Obama. There’s also a shout-out for small donors… | She calls Jim Clyburn, who joined her on the campaign trail, South Carolina’s champion in Congress and promises to work with him to carry on the work of President Obama. There’s also a shout-out for small donors… |
| “Today, grassroots donors are powering our campaign,” she says. This is the candidate who has taken shot after shot about her ties to Wall Street, remember, from an opponent and supporters of that opponent who have built their challenge on such small donations. | “Today, grassroots donors are powering our campaign,” she says. This is the candidate who has taken shot after shot about her ties to Wall Street, remember, from an opponent and supporters of that opponent who have built their challenge on such small donations. |
| This victory is for parents and teachers, Clinton says, who in rural South Carolina showed her “crumbling classrooms and communities too long neglected”. It’s also for an entrepreneur, for women and people of colour and “particularly young people”. It’s a tick list of Democratic demographics, of course, but also of groups which have hitherto fuelled the Sanders insurgency. | This victory is for parents and teachers, Clinton says, who in rural South Carolina showed her “crumbling classrooms and communities too long neglected”. It’s also for an entrepreneur, for women and people of colour and “particularly young people”. It’s a tick list of Democratic demographics, of course, but also of groups which have hitherto fuelled the Sanders insurgency. |
| And here’s a section directed across the divide, against Donald Trump: “We don’t need to make America again. America’s never stopped being great. But we do need to make America whole again. Instead of building walls we need to be breaking barriers.” | And here’s a section directed across the divide, against Donald Trump: “We don’t need to make America again. America’s never stopped being great. But we do need to make America whole again. Instead of building walls we need to be breaking barriers.” |
| Clinton then moves to race. | Clinton then moves to race. |
| “We have to face the reality of systemic racism,” she says, name-checking Dr King, Rosa Parks and John Lewis and calling for reform to the criminal justice system. She pays tribute to “five mothers brought together by tragedy”, the five mothers of black men and women killed by police who have campaigned with her in the state, and lists them all by name, and the circumstances of their children’s deaths. | “We have to face the reality of systemic racism,” she says, name-checking Dr King, Rosa Parks and John Lewis and calling for reform to the criminal justice system. She pays tribute to “five mothers brought together by tragedy”, the five mothers of black men and women killed by police who have campaigned with her in the state, and lists them all by name, and the circumstances of their children’s deaths. |
| Related: Women who lost children to violence form powerful Hillary Clinton coalition | Related: Women who lost children to violence form powerful Hillary Clinton coalition |
| And she talks about Flint, Michigan, the city subject to a lead-poisoning crisis in its drinking water after a government decision to cut costs. | And she talks about Flint, Michigan, the city subject to a lead-poisoning crisis in its drinking water after a government decision to cut costs. |
| “We know there are many other Flints out there,” she says, to a crowd now in a respectful silence. | “We know there are many other Flints out there,” she says, to a crowd now in a respectful silence. |
| She also appeals for “more love and kindness in America”. And that leads to a crescendo of rhetoric, and applause, and a wrap. | She also appeals for “more love and kindness in America”. And that leads to a crescendo of rhetoric, and applause, and a wrap. |
| 1.00am GMT | 1.00am GMT |
| 01:00 | 01:00 |
| Lucia Graves | Lucia Graves |
| Lucia Graves is also in Columbia. She writes: | Lucia Graves is also in Columbia. She writes: |
| Forty minutes after the race was called for Clinton, Congressman Jim Clyburn took the stage at the University of South Carolina to chants of “Hillary!” and “Madam President.” | Forty minutes after the race was called for Clinton, Congressman Jim Clyburn took the stage at the University of South Carolina to chants of “Hillary!” and “Madam President.” |
| He began saying: “Today the Democratic voters of South Carolina have rendered a significant verdict.” And he thanked the voters for starting Clinton on her way to the White House. But he was interrupted by enthusiastic chanting. | He began saying: “Today the Democratic voters of South Carolina have rendered a significant verdict.” And he thanked the voters for starting Clinton on her way to the White House. But he was interrupted by enthusiastic chanting. |
| “She’ll be here in a moment!” he said. | “She’ll be here in a moment!” he said. |
| Moments later she walked on stage to roars. | Moments later she walked on stage to roars. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 1.00am GMT | at 1.00am GMT |
| 12.46am GMT | 12.46am GMT |
| 00:46 | 00:46 |
| Hillary Clinton speaks | Hillary Clinton speaks |
| Here’s the livestream | Here’s the livestream |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.48am GMT | at 12.48am GMT |
| 12.43am GMT | 12.43am GMT |
| 00:43 | 00:43 |
| John Stoehr | John Stoehr |
| Guardian US contributor John Stoehr is impressed with Bernie Sanders’ magnanimity in defeat, but wonders when he will start to worry about his chances. | Guardian US contributor John Stoehr is impressed with Bernie Sanders’ magnanimity in defeat, but wonders when he will start to worry about his chances. |
| Bernie isn’t often credited with grace under fire, but he’s showing that tonight after South Carolina handed his behind to Hillary Clinton. | Bernie isn’t often credited with grace under fire, but he’s showing that tonight after South Carolina handed his behind to Hillary Clinton. |
| CBS News is projecting that Clinton will win by 75% to 25%. | CBS News is projecting that Clinton will win by 75% to 25%. |
| In maintaining his poise, Sanders also rallied the troops, calling South Carolina only the beginning for his “political revolution”. | In maintaining his poise, Sanders also rallied the troops, calling South Carolina only the beginning for his “political revolution”. |
| But the numbers are not in his favor, and he likely knows it. The states at stake in Super Tuesday are more like South Carolina in their percentage of minority voters than they are like Iowa and New Hampshire. | But the numbers are not in his favor, and he likely knows it. The states at stake in Super Tuesday are more like South Carolina in their percentage of minority voters than they are like Iowa and New Hampshire. |
| The battle was uphill for Bernie from the beginning and the hill is only getting steeper. | The battle was uphill for Bernie from the beginning and the hill is only getting steeper. |
| 12.38am GMT | 12.38am GMT |
| 00:38 | 00:38 |
| The moment the result was called… | The moment the result was called… |
| 12.32am GMT | 12.32am GMT |
| 00:32 | 00:32 |
| Regarding Clinton’s huge, 84%-16% win among African American voters (according to exit polls), here’s what Jane Sanders, Bernie Sanders’ wife, told the Guardian on the campaign plane earlier: | Regarding Clinton’s huge, 84%-16% win among African American voters (according to exit polls), here’s what Jane Sanders, Bernie Sanders’ wife, told the Guardian on the campaign plane earlier: |
| I think we’re getting a lot better [at reaching African Americans voters], it’s just that they didn’t know us. They didn’t know us in the south generally. | I think we’re getting a lot better [at reaching African Americans voters], it’s just that they didn’t know us. They didn’t know us in the south generally. |
| That was filed by Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts. He’s now on that plane again, somewhere between Texas and Minnesota. | That was filed by Washington bureau chief Dan Roberts. He’s now on that plane again, somewhere between Texas and Minnesota. |
| Lauren Gambino is at the Clinton victory party in South Carolina. She writes: | Lauren Gambino is at the Clinton victory party in South Carolina. She writes: |
| Clinton worked hard in the state, dedicating much of the past week to campaigning in churches, community halls and college campuses. She was joined by a major figure in the civil rights movement, Congressman James Clyburn, who famously refused to endorse a candidate in 2008, and other local politicians. | Clinton worked hard in the state, dedicating much of the past week to campaigning in churches, community halls and college campuses. She was joined by a major figure in the civil rights movement, Congressman James Clyburn, who famously refused to endorse a candidate in 2008, and other local politicians. |
| The mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and other black men killed by police officers also campaigned for her in the state. At almost every event, she spoke forcefully about the women’s struggle. | The mothers of Trayvon Martin, Eric Garner and other black men killed by police officers also campaigned for her in the state. At almost every event, she spoke forcefully about the women’s struggle. |
| Dan and Lauren’s full report is here: | Dan and Lauren’s full report is here: |
| Related: Hillary Clinton defeats Bernie Sanders to win South Carolina primary | Related: Hillary Clinton defeats Bernie Sanders to win South Carolina primary |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.33am GMT | at 12.33am GMT |
| 12.27am GMT | 12.27am GMT |
| 00:27 | 00:27 |
| More from AP on those South Carolina exit polls, about where Clinton won against Sanders: | More from AP on those South Carolina exit polls, about where Clinton won against Sanders: |
| Black voters powered Clinton to victory, with eight in 10 voting for her. The former secretary of state also won most women and voters aged 30 and older, according to early exit polls. | Black voters powered Clinton to victory, with eight in 10 voting for her. The former secretary of state also won most women and voters aged 30 and older, according to early exit polls. |
| 12.25am GMT | 12.25am GMT |
| 00:25 | 00:25 |
| Meanwhile, in Trumpland… or whatever the online version of Trumpland is… | Meanwhile, in Trumpland… or whatever the online version of Trumpland is… |
| Trump has an endorsements page on his website now. It features Sarah Palin's name misspelled and one other person pic.twitter.com/SLUm1BYaTL | Trump has an endorsements page on his website now. It features Sarah Palin's name misspelled and one other person pic.twitter.com/SLUm1BYaTL |
| Marco Rubio may have a view to share on this latest spelling mishap for the Trump campaign. As the Republican candidates hurl insults at each other, the Florida senator has taken to saying Donald Trump’s tweets may be being typed out by illegal immigrants. It’s not Wildean repartee, is it, but it’s a start… | Marco Rubio may have a view to share on this latest spelling mishap for the Trump campaign. As the Republican candidates hurl insults at each other, the Florida senator has taken to saying Donald Trump’s tweets may be being typed out by illegal immigrants. It’s not Wildean repartee, is it, but it’s a start… |