Days until South Carolina Democratic primary: 4
Days until Nevada Republican caucuses: Today
Days until SEC Primary: 7.
Texas:
Ted Cruz's grip on his home state is no longer ironclad after his stumble in South Carolina. From the Texas Tribune:
"I think he is safe here, but I think it just got a lot more competitive for him," said one strategist who, like the others, was granted anonymity to candidly discuss the prospects of one of the most popular Republicans in Texas. "The idea that you can just sit back or just let a couple of state senators wrangle up your vote for you just isn't realistic."
He has to come and work now," the strategist added.
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University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, conducted pre-South Carolina: Ted Cruz 37, Donald Trump 29, Marco Rubio 15, Jeb Bush 6, John Kasich 5; Hillary Clinton 54, Bernie Sanders 44. (Texas Tribune)
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U.S. Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin, endorsed Ted Cruz. He is the 22nd U.S. House member to endorse Cruz, while none of his fellow senators have lent support. (Dallas Morning News)
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Marco Rubio's Super PAC made television buys in Austin and Dallas, but without Jeb Bush's Super PAC around, it does not look like an air war will come to Texas. (Texas Tribune)
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Bill Clinton drew 2,000 to a Dallas college to stump for his wife, saying that college should be free "for the middle class on down," but upper-income families should have to pay for it – contrasting Hillary Clinton's position with Bernie Sanders'. (Dallas Morning News)
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Bernie Sanders picked up endorsements from some former Texas officials, but still does not have any superdelegates from the state. (Dallas Morning News)
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Six days into early voting in Texas' 10 most populous counties, Republican turnout is up 71 percent from 2008 (when John McCain had all but clinched the nomination) while Democratic turnout is half of 2008 (when Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton had an epic battle). (Houston Chronicle)
SEC-wide:
John Kasich's Super PAC announced that it had placed 50 staff and 14 offices across 12 states voting in March. That includes Georgia, Arkansas and Virginia. (New Day for America)
Tennessee:
A look at why Donald Trump is the clear favorite in Tennessee. He's scheduled to visit the Memphis area on Saturday, the same day Ted Cruz and John Kasich make stops in the state. (The Tennessean)
Virginia:
Appearing in Fairfax on Monday, John Kasich said he first got elected in Ohio when women "left their kitchens" to help his campaign. He apologized later in the day. (ABC News)
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Hillary Clinton added two new television ads to her rotation in Virginia, as Bernie Sanders is due to visit Norfolk on Tuesday. (Virginian Pilot)
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The Kilgore family, an influential Southwest Virginia political clan that had backed Jeb Bush, is now behind Marco Rubio. (Washington Post)
Arkansas:
Gov. Asa Hutchinson endorsed Marco Rubio, saying he is "the only candidate who can unite this nation the way Ronald Reagan once did." Hutchinson had previously backed his predecessor Mike Huckabee. (Associated Press)
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Donald Trump scheduled a Saturday airport rally in Bentonville, a short hop from his Memphis rally later that day. Ted Cruz plans two Sunday events in Arkansas, also. (Arkansas News)
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Hillary Clinton rolled out a 150-person Arkansas leadership team that included the current state Democratic Party chairman and three former governors. (We can safely assume Bill Clinton makes a fourth.) (Associated Press)
Oklahoma:
Bernie Sanders is scheduled to appear Wednesday in Tulsa. (The Oklahoman)
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Donald Trump heads to Oklahoma City for a rally on Friday. (Tulsa World)
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