9:40 - Cruz takes to the podium. His supporters criticized Rubio for sounding like a winner in Iowa a couple short weeks ago. Now he sounds like he is taking the opposite side of the table. He looks to come in 3rd, but sounds like he is claiming victory in a state he should have won. He claims these are historic results in his favor and that his team have "defied expectations."
9:35 - Charleston and Richland counties all in, and both voted for Rubio. So far, Cruz is not winning a single county in a state that he was expected to have a good shot in for 1st.
9:30 - Rubio looks to have won the two populous counties in South Carolina tonight. Most of the vote has come in from Charleston County, and Richland county is home to Columbia, and Rubio is decently in the lead there as well.
9:10 - Bush and Trump have addressed their supporters. Rubio is about to take the podium momentarily. Rep. Trey Gowdy has spoken at Rubio HQ and now Sen. Tim Scott is addressing the excited Rubio crowd.
8:58 - Now 67% of the numbers are in. We have two-thirds of precincts in, and Trump is holding on to 33% of the vote, and Rubio is now alone in 2nd with 22.2% of the vote, followed by Cruz at 21.7% of the vote. All other candidates are at 8% and less. If Cruz ends in 3rd today, it is a major disappointment for his campaign.
8:43 - BREAKING: Jeb Bush speaking to supporters in South Carolina announces he is withdrawing from the Presidential race.
8:38 - Now 43% of precincts in and Trump has 34% of the vote, followed by Rubio and Cruz, who are locked at 21.6% of the vote apiece.. Bush and Kasich almost locked at just over 8% of the vote apiece.
8:13 - Just over 20% of precincts in, and over 150,000 votes have been counted. Rubio ahead of Cruz for 2nd by just 8 votes! Close as it gets!
8:03 - New block of votes come in, propelling Rubio to 2nd. Now 16% of vote in and Rubio with 22% of the vote to Cruz's 21%. Kasich also now overtaking Bush for 4th.
8:00 - With 12% precincts reporting, Trump holds 34% of the vote, with Cruz at 22% and Rubio at 21%. None of the other candidates break double digits. Bush is in 4th with just under 10%, barely staying ahead of Kasich.
7:50 - As recently as last Sunday, the RealClearPolitics average of polling was showing Trump with a nearly 20 point margin over 2nd. He is now fighting for a 10 point margin. Rubio and Cruz both outperforming polling right now, while Bush, Kasich and Carson all down from their polling.
7:40 - All networks now calling the primary for Trump. Rubio narrowly leading Cruz for 3rd.
7:31 - BREAKING: The Fox News decision desk is calling South Carolina for Donald Trump, but projecting that he will end with only a single digit margin. Rubio and Cruz in a race for 2nd.
7:30 - A lay of South Carolina geography to keep in mind as results come in. The state is pretty well split in three distinctive areas, and each have their own priorities. The NW part of the state is strong with faith voters. Spartanburg and Greenville are main cities in this area. The central part of the state is home to Columbia, the state capital, and has a diverse blend of voters. There are business-minded conservatives here, as well as a lot of foreign policy-focused voters with a number of veterans in that area. Faith conservatives are plenty here also. Lastly, there is what is known as the "Low Country". This is the coastal area where Charleston and Myrtle Beach are larger population centers. Many retirees live in this area.
7:09 - Reports coming in that late deciders broke heavily for Cruz and Rubio. It is reported to be a tight 3-way race for 1st between Cruz, Rubio, Trump.
7:08 - Judging by what I hear in the exit polls and other info coming in, I will predict the following order:
1) Rubio
2) Cruz
3) Trump
4) Kasich
5) Bush
6) Carson
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