Controversial Republican presidential aspirant Donald Trump today lived up to his front-runner billing by winning big at the South Carolina primary while Democrat Hillary Clinton eked out a crucial victory in Nevada to boost her lacklustre campaign.

Trump’s win, following his victory in New Hampshire earlier this month and a second-place finish in the Iowa caucuses, gives the 69-year-old real estate tycoon a critical burst of momentum heading into Nevada’s Republican caucuses on Tuesday and the slate of 13 states voting on Super Tuesday, March 1.

In another significant development, the Republican presidential pack shrank to five as Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said he is suspending his campaign after a poor showing in South Carolina.

Trump’s performance could unnerve the Republican establishment, since South Carolina has sided with the eventual nominee in every GOP presidential race since 1980, apart from 2012.

“I want to begin by thanking the people of South Carolina. This is a special night,” Trump said in a victory speech.

“There is nothing easy about running for president, I can tell you. It’s tough, it’s nasty. It’s mean. It’s vicious.

It’s beautiful. When you win, it’s beautiful,” he told his cheering supporters.

His wife, Melania, also made rare public remarks.

“I want to say congratulations to my husband,” she said, noting that he’s “been working very hard.”

A battle for second place was on between Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. With 99 per cent of precincts reporting, Rubio is narrowly leading Cruz with just over 22 per cent. Trump leads with 33 per cent.

Narrow win for Clinton

Meanwhile, at the Democratic primary in Nevada, 68-year-old Clinton and her supporters breathed a sigh of relief following a narrow win over Bernie Sanders.

With about 88 per cent of precincts reporting, Clinton was at 52.6 per cent to 47.4 per cent for Sanders.

“I am so, so thrilled and so grateful to all of my supporters out there,” Clinton told a crowd of cheering supporters in Las Vegas. “Some may have doubted us but we never doubted each other.”

Clinton’s Nevada win comes just a week-and-a-half after she lost to Bernie Sanders by double-digits in New Hampshire .

Her campaign is hoping the win will serve to undercut Sanders’ momentum as they head next into several delegate-heavy contest.

Sanders told his supporters he called Clinton to congratulate her. Despite his defeat, he vowed to take his campaign nationwide, notably looking past South Carolina, where Clinton is leading the polls, to a clutch of primaries on March 1.

Conservative movement

Bush — who so far raised maximum amount of money and spent millions of dollars as compared to his other GOP primary rivals —— announced to suspend his presidential campaign following the dismal showing.

He received less than eight per cent of the total Republican primary voters in South Carolina.

The Democratic presidential campaign now moves to South Carolina, where the primary is scheduled February 27, while for the GOP the race to White House enters Nevada on Tuesday night where Trump, with back to back victories, will be the favourite Republican presidential candidate.

“The momentum since the beginning of this campaign has been unbelievable. I think we’re going to do terrific there and the SEC is going to be very exciting. We expect to do very well there,” said Trump.

An energetic Rubio also appeared to be confident to win the party’s nomination as the election cycle enters a crucial phase.

“This country is now ready for a new generation of conservatives to guide us into the 21st century,” said Rubio.

“The 21st century conservative movement is the daughter of immigrants from India who wanted desperately for their children to have all the opportunities they never did. Who faced a string of prejudice and yet because of the greatness of our country today, Nikki Haley is the governor of a state where it’s always a great day,” he said.

“And the 21st century conservative movement is the son of a bartender and a maid from Cuba who tonight stands one step closer to being the 45th president of the United States of America,” Rubio said.

Cruz, Rubio eye Bush supporters

Announcing to suspend his campaign, Bush said he firmly believes the American people must entrust this office to someone who understands that whoever holds it is the servant, not the master.

“Someone who will commit to that service with honour and decency,” he said.

“The people of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have spoken. I respect their decision. So, tonight, I am suspending my campaign,” Bush said.

With Bush dropping out, both Cruz and Rubio were eyeing his supporters.

Cruz, in his speech, appeared to be claiming victory to rally behind his supporters nationwide. He said that now there is “only one strong conservative in a position to win this race.”

That is why Donald Trump “relentlessly attacks us and ignores the other candidates”, he said.

In Nevada, it was a hard fought victory for Clinton.

“We won the Nevada caucuses,” said the former Secretary of State in her victory speech wherein she laid out her vision of a new country, where the US is the new super power in clean energy, women’s and minority rights are respected, and big companies play by the rule book

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