we will go to billy gene shaw with more. >> reporter: a huge night for marco rubio. he gave the speech and you can hear the momentum tonight of the supporters. you can see the energy and excitement coming from on and off the stage. he took the stage with the governor's support and tray gaudy. the rubio camp said it was their goal to finish in the top three. it was a close call between the senator ted cruz about 1200 votes. rubio told his fans history was >> if it is d's will we should win this election history will say that on this night in south carolina we took the first step forward from the beginning of a new american century. thank you, south carolina. >> i have faith in his plan of innovation for the united states of america. go marco rubio. >> i feel like some of the other contenders got out early on so i feel like we could make more headway >> reporter: marco rubio took time to acknowledge jeb bush saying he was one of the best governor's that the country has ever seen. and something that has been on everyone's mind since senator rubio has made what we call a

wis has team coverage all over the state for the first in the south republican primary, and our billy gene shaw is covering senator marco rubio tonight. >> she is in columbia, meaghan norman is with the senator ted cruz's campaign in columbia. >> and chad norris is? sperg following the donald trump campaign. we will start with allie, and we have polls open for another 58 minutes? >> reporter: absolutely, judy and charles. right now, the lines here like like they have been all day. the word is steady. it's been a very steady stream as people have been coming in. was quite a line all the way to the door but that started to dwindle at lunchtime and like we said, steady. people have been coming in throughout the day, never a quiet moment. we are told here like the rest of the state, no real problems. >>> now, a lot of eyes are on the lexington county precinct, because back in 2012, lexington county brought in nearly one third of the vote for the midlands. while we are waiting for final number, those working in this precinct say they have been, quote, pleasantly surprised, by the number. >>> somethi