Monday, February 29, 2016

Americans Set To Head To The Polls For Super Tuesday

Americans are set to head to the polls in 12 states this week on so-called Super Tuesday, as the Republican and Democrat parties vote on who they want to represent them in the race for the White House this November. 

Lots of delegates are up for grabs on both sides, meaning the day's results will have a major impact on who is nominated for president by both parties. 


Script:


UPSOT Hillary Clinton

When we stand together there is no barrier too big to break (crowd cheers)... // Tomorrow, this campaign goes national!


For Hillary Clinton, and for all the other candidates, 'going national' means Super Tuesday - the biggest single day of primary voting in the nomination contest.


No other one day gives a candidate so much chance to get ahead - since up for grabs are high numbers of delegates, the supporters each party sends to their summer Convention to formally elect the nominee. Here's Donald Green, a professor of political science at Columbia University:


SOT - Donald Green, Professor of Political Science, Columbia University

At stake is about a quarter of all the delegates for each party, so the candidates go a long way towards victory if they can pull off a big win on Super Tuesday. Secondly, it's the first time in the electoral calendar when the candidates have to campaign across states. Up to this point, it's been one state at a time.


And, experts say, after convincing wins in South Carolina and Nevada, this could be the moment Hillary Clinton clinches the deal. Donald Green again.


SOT - Donald Green, Professor of Political Science, Columbia University

She already has a fairly substantial lead, some say an insurmountable lead in delegates, so the fact that the polling odds now put her at a 90% chance of getting the nomination means she comes into Super Tuesday as the big favourite.


But on the Republican side of the race, Donald Trump has up-ended all the usual rules of the game. The winner doesn't take all the delegates in the Republican Super Tuesday states - so even if he does well, the property tycoon may not deliver a knockout blow to his rivals… yet…


UPSOT Chris Christie

I am proud to be here to endorse Donald Trump for president of the United States.


But The Donald goes into the contest with seemingly unstoppable momentum - leading the polls in at least four states - especially after a heavyweight endorsement from former candidate Chris Christie. Here's Jonathan Cristol from the World Policy Institute.


SOT - Jonathan Cristol, Fellow, World Policy Institute

You have this situation where Trump, who is ahead, could really pull ahead even further. I wouldn't go so far as to say he could walk away with it, but he could make it extremely difficult for Marco Rubio or Ted Cruz to catch up. For Ted Cruz, it's make or break. If he doesn't win his home state of Texas, he's pretty much finished. // Rubio has articulated a strategy where he's saying he doesn't need to win any of the 12 states up for grabs, because they're proportionately allocated and so long as he comes reasonably close, he can hold out and fight Trump to the end.


After Tuesday, the race spreads out across the map to a handful of states at a time - with the next big primaries in Ohio and Florida on 15th March. But it's what happens on Super Tuesday that determines which candidates are even left in the contest by then. Lorna Shaddick, New York.


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