Days until South Carolina Democratic primary: 5.

Days until Nevada Republican caucuses 1.

Days until SEC Primary: 8.

SEC-wide:

Marco Rubio isn't letting politics get in the way of his football allegiances (see: Fiorina, Carly). Even on the eve of the SEC primary, he stuck to his University of Florida fandom – and against a big chunk of the forthcoming electorate – in an interview during a visit to Arkansas: "I root for almost anyone who's playing LSU or Alabama or Georgia." (Talk Business & Politics)

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Ted Cruz's disappointing third place in South Carolina raises questions about whether his Southern firewall is all that sturdy. (Buzzfeed)

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The Rev. Jesse Jackson does not like the moniker "SEC Primary." He told a South Carolina church on Sunday it should be called "the Confederate primary: That's old, backwards, Make-America-Great-Again politics." (Bloomberg News)

Texas:

Ted Cruz's home state is turning into a must-win for the U.S. senator to stay in the fight against Donald Trump. (Dallas Morning News)

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Donald Trump is set to open an office in DeSoto, outside Dallas, today. (Dallas Morning News)

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Former Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson and former Texas Railroad Commission chairman Elizabeth Ames Jones Coleman endorsed Marco Rubio. (Dallas Morning News)

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Hillary Clinton drew 2,000 to a rally in Houston on Saturday night, as she emphasizes the high stakes for her campaign in Texas. Bill Clinton will be in the state today. (Texas Tribune) She also debuted Texas TV ads on Friday, targeting smaller and Hispanic-heavy markets. (Dallas Morning News)

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The campaign in Texas has been slower on the Democratic side than in 2008, when Texas had Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's nearly undivided attention. (Austin American-Statesman)

Alabama:

Ted Cruz narrowly edged Donald Trump in a Huntsville GOP men's club straw poll. (AL.com)

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Marco Rubio’s campaign rolled out a list of 21 Alabama veterans

who have endorsed him. (AL.com)

Tennessee:

Marco Rubio drew 4,000 people to a rally outside Nashville on Sunday, in what campaign staff said was the biggest turnout of his campaign so far. (WKRN-Nashville)

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John Kasich plans a three-stop campaign swing through Tennessee at the end of the week, starting with a Memphis town hall on Friday and continuing on to Nashville and Knoxville on Saturday. (Memphis Commercial Appeal)

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U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker declined any direct comment on Donald Trump's South Carolina triumph. Neither has endorsed for president, though Corker hinted he could go public with his pick in a couple days. (Memphis Flyer)

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At an office opening for Hillary Clinton's campaign in Memphis, U.S. Rep. Steve Cohen told Clinton campaigners to keep it positive against Bernie Sanders, and declined to criticize Clinton's foe. (Memphis Flyer)

Virginia:

Bernie Sanders plans a rally in Norfolk on Tuesday. (Virginian Pilot)

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Most of the Legislative Black Caucus has endorsed Hillary Clinton. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

Arkansas:

Marco Rubio drew 2,000 to Little Rock on Sunday, many of whom were getting behind Rubio as the Stop Trump candidate. (Daily Beast)

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Gov. Asa Hutchinson took a swipe at Donald Trump's lack of "tolerance," and said he "may or may not" endorse another candidate now that his first choice, Mike Huckabee, is out. (Arkansas News)

Oklahoma:

Bernie Sanders now has six paid staffers and four offices in Oklahoma. (Tulsa World)

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Bill Clinton drew a crowd of 750 in Oklahoma City to stump for Hillary. (The Oklahoman)