Republican contests

Bernie Sanders has a good chance to win three states on Saturday and then set the scene for a revolutionary contest between himself and rival Hillary Clinton. The States of Washington, Alaska and Hawaii will vote on Saturday for their Democratic presidential nominee. Sanders and Clinton both relish the fact of going against a Republican businessman, turned professional politician, and the front-runner for the White House, Donald Trump. There are no Republican contests on Saturday so children can stay up late and watch telly.

Last July I wrote that Donald Trump was merely a “blip,” a novelty candidate who couldn’t do much better than 17 percent in the polls. He would swiftly go the way of Herman Cain.

In August, I still didn’t believe the Trump hype. The 2016 race, I predicted, would see an early surge for a religious right candidate, followed by the inevitable nomination of the establishment favorite, probably Jeb Bush. After the Iowa caucuses, I was sure my scenario was playing out, only with Rubio in place Bush.

It was a primary "Super Saturday" of surprises for the presidential candidates after Bernie Sanders took two of three contested states in the Democratic race, winning the caucuses of Nebraska and Kansas leaving Hillary the only Democratic primary of the night in Louisiana, while in the Republican race Ted Cruz unexpectedly tied with Donald Trump, winning the smaller half of the night's four nominating contests, in Kansas - where Trump had been leading in the polls - and Maine, while the Donald won the bigger states of Louisiana and Kentucky, holding onto his lead in the presidential race ev

The first four Republican contests—Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada—produced record turnouts.

While the prospect of routing Hillary Clinton and recapturing the White House brought out the true believers, it was Donald Trump’s name on the ballot and his calls for economic patriotism, border security, and an end to imperial wars that brought out the throngs.

The crowds that continue to come out for his appearances and the vast audiences he has attracted to GOP debates testify to his drawing power.