very important. call icahn endorzed me. we're going to put these great business people in charge of trade. it. they're going to negotiate with the best business minds in the world. and we have them in this country. [cheers and applause] so we're going to do a lot of beautiful work. we're going to terminate obamacare. it's going to be terminated. it's going to be over. it's going to be repealed, and it's going to be replaced, and you're going to have much better health care at a much smaller cost, because obamacare, look at the increases in your obamacare. 25, 35, 45, even 55%. it's dead. it's not working. we're going to go to a plan that's so much better and so much less expensive.

[cheers and applause] >> trump, trump! >> second amendment. thank you, fellas. this is a room loves and cherishes the second amendment. we are going to protect our second amendment, totally. [cheers and applause] common core is gone. we are getting rid of common core. we're bringing education to a local level. the people in this community, every time i see them, they want education locally. the parents, the teachers, they want to do it. they don't want bureaucrats in washington telling them thousand -- how to educate their children. [cheers and applause] we spend as a nation more for education per pupil than any other nation in the world, not even close. more per pupil, second place doesn't even exist, it's so different. and yet, out of 30 countries,

we're ranked number 30. you have china. you have norway, sweden, denmark. and then you have number 30, the united states. so we spend the most, and we're at the bottom of the heap. it's not going to happen anymore, folks, not going to happen anymore. [cheers and applause] we are going to build our military, which i thank, because a number of the people came down, and a number of the pundits watching tonight, we love our military. we love our military. and by the way, we love our police. our police are terrific. [cheers and applause] we love our police. they are not being treated properly. we're going to build our military so big, so good, so strong, so powerful, that nobody is ever going to mess with us, folk

folks, and we're going to buy the equipment that our generals, our soldiers that everybody that's in the know want. we're not buying equipment that sells because they have political, because they take campaign and they give campaign contributions. we are going to get the equipment that they want, not the equipment that they're told to have by senators and congress men in washington. we're going to have great equipment. [cheers and applause] and the reason i can say that is i'm self-funding my campaign. i'm not getting millions of dollars from all of these -- i'm not getting millions of dollars from all of these special interests and lobbyists and donors that once they get it, they literally do whatever the politicians want. that's not going to happen. and we're going to take care of our vets. we love our vets, and they're being treated terribly. we're taking care of our vets. [cheers and applause] so we're now off to nevada. and it's a great state.

we have great people. we have great people in our nation, no matter where we go. i went to mobile, alabama, 35,000 people. we went to oklahoma recently, twice. 20,000 people, 20,000 people. no matter where we go, we fill up the arenas. over here the other day, we had 9,000. we had a 10 tho,000. the only thing that stops the crowds are the walls, because we can't get them in. we have to send thousands of people away. "time" magazine last week did an incredible cover story. they said it's a movement, and that's what it is. it's an incredible movement with incredible people. >> usa! usa! usa! usa! usa! usa! usa! usa! usa! >> it's an incredible movement

with incredible people, and whether we go, honestly, whether we go to dallas or anywhere you say, you go to l.a., you go anywhere you say, our people are incredible. and, you know, our theme, what's our theme, you know it, right? >> make america great again! >> our theme, which i love, maybe the greatest theme of all time, right? and the word, again, eventually is going to come off. we're going to get rid of the whole theme. make america great again, right? and the last two weeks, because i've gotten to see so many, i guess millions when you add them all up with all of these rooms and all of these speeches, and i've met so many people. but the people are so incredible, that i've been saying, make america great again, and it's going to be greater than ever before. that's the kind of potential we have. greater than ever before. so --

[cheers and applause] so i want to thank everybody. i love you all. again, south carolina, we will never forget you. we will never forget you. we will never, ever forget south carolina. we will never forget our great volunteers. we love our volunteers. [cheers and applause] we'll never forget all of the people who have helped us so much. my family, and folks, let's go, let's have a big win in nevada, a big win at the sec, let's put this win away, and let's make america great again. thank you very much. >> the winner of tonight's south carolina primary, donald j. trump. chuck j. todd, what do you make of the acceptance speech? >> first of all, what a book end. jeb bush gets out. immediately donald trump declares victory.

the timing of it, i think poetic in a number of ways. that's a very confident donald trump. i noticed he was gracious to his two chief opponents, cruz and rubio. let's see how long that lasts. i think rubio is the one he's going to have to be most fearful of. because the big news is jeb dropping out. in this respect, it does mean he has a ton of money, people. now does money matter anymore? we'll find out, but all of those people are going to move over to rubio, whatever is left of this establishment wing of the party. and i think we have to question how much juice they have. they're going to put all their chips in with rubio, so rubio's going to have the resources, and seeing how that argument is framed between the two of them, and i tell you, it's going to be immigration. we know where it's going to go. this has been trump's strength. look at how he does the audience back and forth, who's going to pay for that wall? and the whole audience jumps in.

and that's what the whole rest of the week's going to be like for marco rubio. it will be interesting to see how he's going to handle it, what's he going to do to fight back against trump on the issue of immigration. we come back in a week that we can't believe that he defended planned parent hood, trashed george w. bush, but there's one thing he's on track with the americans, and that's immigration. >> i'm thinking of the american spending one year in space. if he were up there without the ability to get news coverage and lands in kazakhstan and someone says oh, we should bring you up to date on politics. >> the nominees are hillary clinton, and the guy's like, mm-hm, mm-hm. and, passes out. >> i think this is all a plot to increase viewership tomorrow morning. >> our lead guest, you just saw him speak. we'll have him live first thing in the morning.

>> you don't need my help to pump up "meet the press" tomorrow morning. >> it's been pretty good. >> i'd get to bed and start prepping for that. >> there has been no pole since early november which showed anybody leading in south carolina other than donald trump, so it should not feel like a surprise. it should not feel like news that donald trump actually won in south carolina, but still, it will never not be surprising to look up to that podium and see donald trump declaring victory. all the more so tonight when we have jeb bush leaving the race. i would like to make one note on that money point, which chuck was just making. it will be very interesting to see what will happen to the trail of money that has followed jeb bush over this race. obviously, the way that jeb bush became the establishment candidate was not just by being born jeb bush. it was because he raised $100 million in the blink of an eye to start the race.

>> that's because weighs boas b bush. >> he stocked up $100 million. forgive me, it was the shock and awe strategy that his brother used. but the tragedy of this political shall the tragedy of the way the jeb bush campaign fell apart is the way they spent themselves into oblivion, because, if you're jeb bush, and this race is going to have donald trump as the nominee or maybe ted cruz as the nominee or maybe untested marco rubio as the nominee, obviously, that's such a fragile state that you want to be there when that comes into focus so are you still another option. and with $100 million to sit on, he should have been able to sit out until the end. whos what the number one spender in new hampshire? jeb bush. who's the number one spender in south carolina? jeb bush. he should have been, with that

much money, able to stay on until the very end when the candidate for the establishment was a little rattled. they've got basically zero hard dollars left and basically all of the super pac money is gone. that was absolute malpractice and whether or not you like jeb bush as a talent and a candidate, the way that campaign was run was ridiculous. >> it's what lawrence alluded to earlier. >> to spend money for nothing. >> they've all spent mind-boggling amounts of money, but the decision that will be dissected as people begin looking at the process of what went wrong will be what you alluded to. that trump successfully planned him. >> low energy sat out there for two weeks. >> like chuck said. he rode down that escalator the morning after jeb bush announced. and i remember talking to him over the summer, what are you

going to do about trump? and they said we have to stay focussed on our lane. there's going to and outsider primary and an establishment primary, and he wasn't just winning in the establishment because he was a bush. he was a very successful governor who is typically someone that we like. so the strategic decision that we second guessed was the decision not to take on trump. >> but haven't you riden along in the polls, bumping along at 5s and 6s and 7s. and to come in fourth and six places, he could have held on until deep in the race if he still had money to spend. let people redefine him. let people brand him. because that stuff was a superficial influence. they spent all the money like it

was on fire. >> it will be about who they targeted. those are the questions. >> for nothing. >> his party needs him out of the race tonight. when he finished at 8%. if he hadn't spent his money, if he was hanging onto his money, and he came in at less than 8%, his party would need him to get out. they're looking at marco rubio as 22, they're saying let's add 30, what about kasich's 8, what's that? that takes him up to 36. you add kasich and bush to rubio, and you have a winner. >> that's right. >> you also have marco rubio as your candidate, though. and if the republican establishment were in a place where they were worried about marco rubio, because let's say that chatty kathy thing at that one debate was not a one-time thing and he is really desperately unable to be a candidate, and if you look down the race and the only person left is ben carson, he's not

solved your problem. >> based on what you've seen on the campaign stage, would you rather be backing bush or rubio? >> ask me in four months. >> chris matthews, if you can hear me in las vegas, we're coming to you after we hear from marco rubio. among the first and largest embraces was from nikki haley behind him. let's listen to marco rubio. >> marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! >> thank you. >> marco! >> first of all, i want to begin by, i want to begin by congratulating donald trump. we haven't had a chance to speak yet. he won, but after tonight this has become a three-person race, and we will win the nomination. [cheers and applause] i also, a few moments ago got to see on television, have not had a chance to speak to him yet,

governor bush and his announcement. i have an incredible affection and admiration not just for governor bush but for his family and their service to our country. jeb bush has many things to be proud of. he is an extraordinary husband. he's an extraordinary father. he was the greatest governor in the history of florida. [cheers and applause] and i, and i believe, and i pray that his service to our country has not yet end ed, and i thank jeb bush for everything he's done for the state of florida and for running a campaign based on ideas, and i pray for him and his family tonight as they move forward in other evndeavors in their life. [cheers and applause] tonight here in south carolina the message is pretty clear.

this country is now ready for a new generation of conservatives to guide us into the 21st century. [cheers and applause] for the time, the time has now come, after eight years of failure, to return to the constitution of the united states that made us the freest people that have ever lived. [cheers and applause] the time has now come for leaders that will reembrace free enterprise which made us the most prosperous people that have ever lived. and the time has come to rebuild our military, because the world is a better, a safer and more stable place when we are the strongest military in the world. [cheers and applause] we, as a nation, have faced troubling times before. in fact, 36 years ago, this nation faced a period of doubt. after a failed presidency, it

felt like america was in decline. our economy was stagnant, and the american dream felt like it was slipping away. and then we elected a president that inspired us. a president who asked us to remember who we were and who believed, as we do, that america's greatest days always lie ahead. ronald reagan. [cheers and applause] ronald reagan made us believe that it was morning in america again. and it was. >> yeah! >> well, now the children of the reagan revolution are ready to assume the mantle of leadership. [cheers and applause] now those of us who grew up when it was morning in america and ronald reagan was in the white house are ready to do for our generation, are ready to do for the next generation what ronald

reagan did for ours. [cheers and applause] and who is this conservative movement in the 21st century? because our principles remain the same. but who are we? my friends, the 21st century conservatives are the son of a single mother who grew up in poverty and was almost lost and today he serves this state as its junior senator, tim scott. [cheers and applause] the 21st century conservative movement is the daughter of immigrants from india, who wanted desperately for their

children to have all the opportunities they never did. who faced a string of prejudice and yet, because of the greatness of our country today, nikki haley is the governor of a state where it's always a great day! [cheers and applause] and the 21st century conservative movement is the son of a bartender and a maid from cuba who tonight stands one step closer to being the 45th president of the united states of america. [cheers and applause] >> marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! marco! >> we are a nation and a people that celebrate success. we are a nation that admire people that have worked hard and moved ahead. and as conservatives, we will

always celebrate success. but we fight for those who are still trying to make it. if tonight you are that single mother who has made it the purpose of your life to leave your children better off than yourself in the 21st century, we conservatives will fight for you. [cheers and applause] if you are watching tonight and you are that father that works two jobs so that your kids could have all the chances you never did, in the 21st century, we conservatives, we'll fight for you. [cheers and applause] if you're the 17-year-old high school student who wants a big future and so you get up well before dawn to take two buses to a better school halfway across town, who gets home late at night to do homework, because you know that god has made you for more than what people around

you tell you you were made for. in the 21st century, we conservatives will fight for you! [cheers and applause] we will fight for you! because we come from where you are now. because we live the way you live now. and we know that limited government and free enterprise and a strong national defense is a better way forward for you, for me, for us, and for the united states of america! [cheers and applause] tonight for those watching at home, i ask you to join us in this effort. this has been a long road. there were many people on this campaign when it first started. many good people, many of whom in any other year would be a front runner, but now practically speaking, it's down

to three, and i know that our campaign gives us the best chance not just to come together, not just to unify our party, but to unify our country and to grow this movement. [cheers and applause] i ask you to go on our website, if you're watching tonight, i ask you to go on our website right now, marco rubio.com and join our campaign. [cheers and applause] 60 years ago a young couple from cuba came to america in search of a new beginning. a second chance, a fresh start. of and america changed their lives. of course i'm talking about my parents. >> spoiler alert! [ laughter ] >> ten days ago, their son

arrived in south carolina after a difficult election in new hampshire in search of a new beginning and a fresh start. >> woo! >> and many thought it was over. somehow doubts about whether we would wind up here even now. for me, the state of south carolina will always be the place of new beginnings and fresh starts. [cheers and applause] i know that god's hand is on everything. and so whatever god's will is, in this election, is what will ultimately happen to us and to our country, but if it is god's will that i should serve as the 45th president. >> yes! [cheers and applause] >> if it is, if it is god's will that we should win this election. >> yes! >> then history will say that on

this night in south carolina we took the first step forward in the beginning of a new american century! [cheers and applause] >> thank you south carolina. thank you. god bless you! thank you. ♪ >> you would, you would think we had called second place. we have not yet, but marco rubio has a lot of reason to be happy for tonight's result, especially coming off the week he had after a bad debate appearance. chris matthews has been so patiently waiting in las vegas. chris, as we look at this scene on stage, this is the candidate you have been talking about the most. vis-a-vis the candidate the democrats fear the most, marco rubio. >> i think he's the biggest remaining threat to donald trump. i think they may be equally balanced in terms of their

strengths, but i think he's the future. and i think he's the best bet if you're a money guy, to put your money on donald trump. i think he's the best bet against hillary clinton. because age matters. he looks like, looking ahead, bernie turns 75 in september. this guy's the average age, a bit below the average age of the presidents we select. he looks good on the stage. he's a man of patriotism. and i've used the phrase he's going to scare the democrats out of nominating bernie sanders. free enterprise. you heard that again tonight a number of times. he's clearly running against a guy who's proud to call himself a democratic socialist. he's running ideologically and politically now claiming a big come back here and he's made of spirituality. he's very religious in a quiet way. and i think that's going to give a lot of confidence going into

these big fights with donald trump in the sec field of combat. >> i said this earlier tonight. while the democrats have their o own gender gap, i think there is an excitement gap in this races, and i think the republicans own the excitement of this race. >> well, certainly there's nothing like a trump rally. a trump, there's nothing like a bernie rally. so in a sense, they're both offering shakeups of the establishment. one more ideological than the other, the other's the more great man theory. make america great again by putting a great man in the white house what trump is saying over and over and over. it's almost napoleonic, i am a perron. i'm there, bernie sanders argues things will happen if we shift over to a more social democratic way of government, not being fearful of government but using it for redistributive purposes,

for health care, retirement, education, but putting more oomph into it. what bernie is offering is old-time relinl on. this is beginning to look like a slow motion version of an old time political convention where one candidate comes in with the most delegates. the one in second begins to move up a little bit. all of a sudden a third one begins to pick up. and by the fifth or sixth ballot that guy is the leader. so when you're looking at it, if you're betting on rubio, and i'm betting on rubio to do well here is a dynamic that goes among the three guys, eventually cruz fades, trump fades, he ends up as a middle of the road republican, a republican that most can live with. >> the business of politics, thanks, chris, we're waiting to

pounce on the cruz speech when he come noos into the ballroom. in the meantime, we will take a quick break and come back with our live coverage

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tonight was the caucus in nevada for the democrats for hillary clinton. then nbc news projected the winner in south carolina, donald trump. that is all we have called. and this could go a while. second, third place, there's nothing separating the two in terms of percentage. so just a reminder that the race below donald trump is still open. and we just heard from marco rubio, sounding for all the world like he'd been awarded second place. still up in the air. we're waiting to hear from ted

cruz, and, as you heard, because the stakes feel so high tonight, because from this field, from all of what we've discussed tonight will emerge the next president of the united states. the departure of jeb bush was, had an emotional value beyond the departure of jeb bush from the race. carrie sanders is standing by with some folks at bush headquarters on that very topic, kerry? >> reporter: as you can see, they've closed the partition into the room. the room is empty where jeb bush gave his speech. and most of those who have gathered here have left. of course jeb bush was the punching bag for donald trump from the very beginning. and now the question becomes for jeb bush supporters like jeanie farmer who's here with us, if donald trump becomes the eventual nominee, can you support donald trump? >> not me personally. >> reporter: because? >> the office of the president of the united states should be a person of dignity and respect,

and donald trump does not represent somebody of character. he is not somebody if i were to vote for him, i couldn't explain to my two young boys why i voted for him, because he's not a man i can respect. he is a man who has trashed women, muslims. he's in a fight with the pope. he just, he's a bad choice for his character perspective. >> reporter: where does that leave you as a republican if he turns out being the nominee? >> that's a good question. i joke with my husband about moving out of the country, because that's mostly a joke, for the most part i love america and where it's going. i'm just not sure whether. >> reporter: could you support hillary clinton or bernie sanders? >> yes, i could. >> reporter: and this is all based on what you've seen during the campaign? why isn't he saying jeb bush. he's saying jeb. why is he with his mommy, why is he taking his glasses off. it's all that sort of ten or?

>> yes he acts like my kids do when they were 2. you can't throw a temper tantrum and i think you're worthy of my vote. it will take one person, and donald trump's going to throw a temper tantrum? and are we going to have a war because he didn't like what somebody said? >> reporter: are you worried about a third party candidate? >> yes, there's already talk about if donald trump won the nominee that somebody else would get in. somebody might get in. >> reporter: like who? i would say michael bloomberg. >> i don't know him personally. obviously he hasn't been vetted by the media or the voters. i'd somewhere 'd have to get to. >> reporter: very much stung by the relationship and what developed between donald trump

and jeb bush during this campaign, and of course now it's for donald trump and the remaining candidates to see if they can eventually win this and, i guess, it really works out, brian, that we always see that in the campaigns, in the primaries, the candidates always take each other down, and then the supporters and the voters eventually coalesce around one person, at least listening to jeanie here, that's not going to happen with her and some others in the room with donald trump. >> kerry, thank you. our thanks to her as well. >> fascinating. i will say, talking to people in new hampshire who were undecided voters, i heard a lot of crossover interest with donald trump as a factor in the republican race, much more expected. i was speaking to people making up their minds at the last second. people who were not interested in him were interested in more conservative, more moderate republican candidates or potentially in bernie sanders or hillary clinton.

there is something about him that is cross drideology cal bu means that the opposition works in the same way. >> there are two huge headlines out of south carolina. one, donald trump won. he did. he creamed them. >> yeah. >> he won by a substantial margin. the other big headline to me is the end of the bush dynasty. i mean, this, and that's huge. this is one of the most consequential families in american history. >> and to have had it happen in south carolina with poppy bush and george bush, and for jeb to end there it is impossible. >> the bushes are at their core very pragmatic and sophisticated political strategists, and i think they would appreciate giving credit to the campaign run by marco rubio.

jeb bush was one of his mentors and sponsors. there is very much about the bush legacy that's alive. and his candidacy is exciting. we talked at the beginning of the night about his rebound. everyone talked about his disastrous debate performance. >> and then his fifth place results in new hampshire. >> but he corrected himself so quickly. and this is sort of a campaign where everything washes out. every sin washes out, you know, in the hot water wash. and rubio has completely cleansed himself of a debacle of a debate performance. he's on the rise. in conservativecircsi circles, is a knife fight on the way between those for cruz and those who see rubio particularly on national security. what's interesting to me about the top three finishers. trump has really no record on

military matters. he saidna he gets his military advice from the shows. cruz has a very mixed record on national security. he's done some things that make people question his commitment to a really robust intel policy on the lines of what bush and chain eeney put in place. rubio does have the mantle of traditional strong national security. i think republicans are excited about rubio. people are excited because there really is something for everyone on the menu. >> republicans are voting in huge numbers. democrats not so huge. >> they really like their guy, you know. >> but rubio could be the up and comer. he could be the eventual nominee. at some point he has to win a primary. >> the second place fight in south carolina is very much too close to call with 94% of the vote in. both rubio and cruz at 22%. we saw a triumphant speech from marco rubio just moments ago.

and now we are about to hear from the man who is effectively tied with for second; senator ted cruz. [cheers and applause] >> god bless the great state of south carolina! [cheers and applause] friends, once again, we have made history. you, the good people of south carolina and our incredible volunteers all over the country continue to defy the pundits and

to produce extraordinary results. >> hey, hey, hey! [cheers and applause] >> let me say a word about governor jeb bush, a man who had a terrific record as governor of the state of florida, who brought job creation and education innovation to the people of florida, a man who ran a campaign based on ideas, based on policy, based on substance. a man who didn't go to the gutter and engage in insults and attacks. [ applause ] governor bush brought honor and dignity to this race. tonight he has suspended his campaign, but heidi and i give our very best to jeb and

columbia and their entire family. we wish them the best, and we thank them for their remarkable campaign. [ applause ] i want to thank our tremendous team here in south carolina. congressman jeff duncan. [cheers and applause] congressman mark sanford. [cheers and applause] and attorney general charlie condon. [ applause ] senator lee bright. [cheers and applause] and representatives bill chummily and wendy nan eye and gary smith and mike burns and jay jordan.

[cheers and applause] and ray nash and pastor mike gonzalez. [cheers and applause] and heroic volunteers like david hell mer and david aguilar and sean and kay meyer and all seven of their terrific kids. [ applause ] and the nearly 500 south carolina pastors that endorsed and joined this campaign. [cheers and applause] first, iowa, then new hampshire, now south carolina. >> hey! >> we don't know the exact results right now. right now we are effectively tied for second place. but each time defying

expectations. >> yeah! >> and causing the pundits -- [cheers and applause] >> ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted! ted ted ted ted! >> indeed! [cheers and applause] indeed the screaming you hear now from across the potomac is the washington cartel in full terror that the conservative grassroots are rising up. [cheers and applause] but before we reflect on what we have together accomplished, i'd like to pause for a moment of silence in honor of a great man, an american hero, justin antonin scalia.

today i attended justice scalia's funeral. i had the honor of knowing him for 20 years. he was brilliant, principled, faithful, a ferocious defender of the constitution and the bill of rights. [cheers and applause] as ronald reagan was to the presidency, so, too, was justice scalia to the u.s. supreme court. [ applause ] his passing one week ago today underscores the enormous stakes

of this election. it is not just one, but two branches of government that are at stake. and justice scalia's replacement will not be decided by the washington power brokers. [cheers and applause] it will be decided by we the people. [cheers and applause] this election will be a referendum on the supreme court. >> that's right. >> and i'll tell you this. i cannot wait to stand on that debate stage with hillary clinton or bernie sanders or whatever other socialist they nominate. [cheers and applause] and make the case against their radical vision of the constitution that would strip

away life and marriage and religious liberty and the second amendment and the basic rights of every american citizen. [ applause ] in iowa, they said it couldn't be done. and we won. [cheers and applause] in new hampshire, they said a conservative, a bible-believing christian could not compete. and we defied expectations. [cheers and applause] and tonight, despite millions and millions of dollars of false and nasty attacks, despite the entirety of the establishment

coming together against us, south carolina has given us another remarkable result. [cheers and applause] together, iowa, new hampshire, and south carolina tell us three things. first, that conservatives continue to unite behind our campaign. [cheers and applause] if you are a conservative, this is where you belong, because only one strong conservative is in a position to win this race. [cheers and applause] >> ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted,

ted! >> second, second, we are the only campaign that has beaten and can beat donald trump. [cheers and applause] that's why donald relentlessly attacks us and ignores all the other candidates. [ applause ] now i congratulate donald on his victory tonight, but i will say this to the people of america. if you don't believe that donald trump is the best candidate to run against hillary clinton in november, if you believe we need a strong contrast with the democrats. >> yeah!

[ applause ] >> then we welcome you aboard our team. >> yeah! >> we welcome you to be part of the over 200,000 volunteers and the over 980,000 volunteers contributions at ted cruz.org. join us at ted cruz.org. [cheers and applause] >> ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted! >> and the third lesson of iowa, new hampshire, and south carolina, is that only one candidate remaining has a consistent conservative record. >> amen! [ applause ] >> other candidates engage in non-stop personal attacks. we have not, and we will not

respond in kind. [ applause ] there is a reason other candidates resort to insults, and it is that they cannot defend the substance of their record. >> that's right. [ applause ] >> there is only one candidate who has led the fight against amnesty. [ applause ] [cheers and applause] >> who has led the fight against obamacare. [cheers and applause] who has led the fight to defend life and marriage and religious liberty [cheers and applause] who has led the fight to protect our right to keep and bear arms under the second amendment.

[cheers and applause] who will fight to pass a simple, flat tax and abolish the irs. [cheers and applause] only one candidate has stood up to the corrupt deal making in washington, said no to the corporate welfare, and indeed, only one candidate took on the ethanol mandate in iowa and won. [cheers and applause] as president, i will rebuild our military. >> amen! >> yeah! [cheers and applause] >> stand unequivocally with the nation of israel. [cheers and applause]

and utterly destroy isis. [cheers and applause] together, we will secure the borders and keep america safe. [cheers and applause] and i give you my solemn word, that every justice i appoint to the u.s. supreme court will be a principled constitutionalist who will be faithful and will vigorously protect the fundamental rights of our children and grand children. [cheers and applause] when i look at our young daughters, caroline and

catherine, i know that i will fight with every breath in my body to ensure that they enjoy the same fundamental liberties that all of us have been blessed to inherit. [cheers and applause] it's why i fight. it's why everyone here fights, because we love our children. and we will not go quietly into the night and give up on a brighter america. [cheers and applause] and now the race turns to nevada and to super tuesday and the so-called sec primary. [cheers and applause] and iowa, new hampshire and

south carolina have given the voters a clear defined choice. you can go with washington deal makers. >> boo! >> or we can stand together with a proven consistent, constitutional conservative and bring back morning in america. [cheers and applause] >> ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted, ted! >> each of you is amazing, and together we will win the republican nomination. >> yeah! [cheers and applause] >> we will beat the democrats in november. [cheers and applause] and we will restore this last,

best hope of man kind that is the united states of america. thank you, and god bless you! [cheers and applause] >> if it isn't record turnout for the republicans, it's awfully close, and ted cruz just became the second person to reference morning in america, having been in a factor in marco rubio's speech. we still don't know who our second place finisher is in south carolina tonight. >> really down to the wire. >> we've only declared the winner. >> that's exactly right. >> we have a five-man race in the republican field with jeb bush suspending his campaign tonight. ben carson and john kasich at the bottom of the results along with jeb bush tonight. both ben carson and john kasich have addressed their supporters already tonight. so this will be the last speech we see tonight from ted cruz. ted cruz giving sort of a long speech. both he and marco rubio saying tonight that they will capture the republican nomination. we saw ted cruz talking

specifically about the challenges of trying to win the general election, already sort of leapfrogging to the end of that but looking into the camera and asking the people of the united states of america to nominate basically somebody like him instead of somebody like donald trump to be the republican. >> both rubio and cruz had kind words for jeb bush who pulled out tonight. >> and it remains to be seen whether the jeb bush departure reorganizes the race, in terms of the money or a coalition candidate or a consensus candidate for non-donald trump-supporting republicans. that remains to be seen. whether he had enough support to make enough difference. >> like the candidates still in this race, we keep on. we're going to take a break. and we'll be back at the top of the hour.

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