Jeb Bush drops out of race

UPDATE: Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush announced tonight he’s suspending his campaign for the Republican nomination for president.

Bush, who choked up several times during his speech to supporters in South Carolina, said he was proud of the campaign he ran to unify the country.

After poor showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, Bush had high hopes for South Carolina, where his brother, former President George W. Bush, who is very popular in the state, campaigned for him. With 67 percent of the vote counted, Bush was in fifth place with only 8 percent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Ben Carson told his supporters tonight he will remain in the race. Carson was behind Bush in South Carolina at 7 percent.

UPDATE (7:30 p.m.): The Associated Press has projected Donald Trump as the winner of the South Carolina Republican presidential primary.

Follow the results at WORLD’s Election Center ’16, which includes real-time results and an interactive map.

UPDATE (7:04 p.m.): The polls have closed in South Carolina and exit polling indicates it will be a three-way battle tonight among billionaire businessman Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as election returns start coming in for the state’s Republican presidential primary.

OUR EARLIER REPORT (5:38 p.m.): Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton rebounded from her big loss last week in the New Hampshire Democratic primary to narrowly defeat Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in Saturday’s Nevada caucuses, according to projections by The Associated Press. With 73 percent of the vote reporting, the former secretary of state holds a 52 to 48 percent lead in state delegates earned.

Entrance polls of caucuses-goers showed that Clinton won the support of those seeking a candidate with electability and experience, while Sanders did better than expected thanks in part to his overwhelmingly favorable rating among voters looking for a candidate who is caring and honest.

Clinton also did well with women, non-whites, moderates, and voters with college degrees, incomes over $100,000, and over 45 years of age. Sanders fared better with men, voters under 45, and those less affluent and educated.

Clinton and Sanders face off again next Saturday in the South Carolina primary.

Meanwhile, Republican voters in the Palmetto State are voting today in their primary, where billionaire businessman Donald Trump is the huge favorite. Polls close at 7 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.