Days until New Hampshire primary: 6
Days until SEC Primary: 27
SEC-wide:
A lack of evangelical support doomed Donald Trump in Iowa, a trend that could hurt him across the SEC primary states. From the Tulsa World:
Trump, who has identified himself a Presbyterian, had worked to gain evangelical support but stumbled along the way. While speaking at the conservative Liberty University in Virginia, he referred to a book of the Bible as Two Corinthians, instead of the more commonly accepted Second Corinthians, raising a few chuckles in the audience.
And when Trump and his wife attended a Sunday service at the nondenominational First Christian Church in Council Bluffs, Iowa, he almost put money in the silver Communion plate, telling staffers "I thought it was for offering."
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Beyond just winning Georgia and other SEC states, Ted Cruz's best shot is to "suffocate" Marco Rubio on March 1 by keeping him from reaching the 20 percent vote threshold, the bar needed to be awarded delegates. (The Nation)
Texas:
Marco Rubio, who has not invested much in Texas so far, announced a leadership team that includes four state legislators. (Texas Tribune)
Tennessee:
Gov. Bill Haslam, a Republican, hasn't endorsing in the presidential race yet and is not sure when he will. ""I'm kind of watching in amazement as most people are." (The Tennessean)
Virginia:
The state spent $62,000 printing and mailing the Republican loyalty oath that the state GOP now wants scrapped on March 1 ballots, following pressure from Donald Trump and others. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)
Arkansas:
Former Gov. Mike Huckabee's departure from the race frees up many of the state's top Republicans, including Gov. Asa Hutchinson, to back another candidate. There has been no stampede in the aftermath of Huckabee's exit, though Donald Trump is due in Little Rock today. (The Associated Press)
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