Democrats

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Sen. Bernie Sanders and Gov. Martin O’Malley met in Charleston, South Carolina Jan. 17. They discussed issues ranging from health care to the Iranian nuclear situation. The debate occurred before news broke Feb. 1 that O’Malley would suspend his presidential campaign.

Republicans

The tightening race between businessman Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz highlighted the Fox News Republican debate Jan. 28 in Des Moines, Iowa. However, Trump was not in attendance because of his feud with Fox. He instead held an event to benefit veteran organizations, according to his campaign website. Despite his absence, his impact was felt on the debate stage. A number of fascinating rivalries continued to evolve as the seven candidates took the stage, including heightened tension between Florida Governor Jeb Bush and Florida Senator Marco Rubio. The candidates on the main stage were Cruz, Bush, Rubio, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, neurosurgeon Ben Carson, Ohio Governor John Kasich and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul.
Results

Cruz and Trump continue to be the clear top two. Kasich, Carson and Paul, along with the candidates who didn’t make it to the main stage, will drop out soon. The candidates they endorse and who their supporters shift toward will decide who wins the nomination. Cruz and Rubio need to gain support from other establishment candidates once those with single-digit support leave the race. These candidates are unlikely to support Trump, so it’s in his best interest to keep them around as long as possible. Whatever the results of the debate, Rubio and Cruz were the big winners on caucus night. Cruz won about 28 percent of the vote, and Rubio came in a strong third place at about 23 percent. Trump did worse than projected, taking second place with 24 percent of the vote. The Democrats and Republicans caucused in Iowa Feb. 1. Cruz won for the Republicans, as Clinton and Sanders remain in a near tie. The New Hampshire primary takes place Feb. 9. Minnesota’s caucuses take place March 1.

Campaign logo artistic renditions by Mira Swartz.