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[h=4]Trump takes Nevada Republican caucuses[/h]Nevada caucuses are the fourth delegate selection contest for GOP candidates.
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Tom Flynn, a Republican voter in Las Vegas, explains why he's backing Donald Trump for president. Seth Richardson
Donald Trump visits a caucus site on Feb. 23, 2016, in Las Vegas.(Photo: Jae C. Hong, AP)
LAS VEGAS — Taking another step toward the Republican presidential nomination, Donald Trump swept to victory Tuesday in Nevada's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Republican caucuses, winning his third consecutive contest.
“We are going to have,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>hopefully, a historic night,” Trump had said during a visit to a caucus site<span style="color: Red;">*</span>earlier in the evening, looking for a victory<span style="color: Red;">*</span>to follow up his easy wins<span style="color: Red;">*</span>in the South Carolina and New Hampshire primaries.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>“I appreciate everybody being here."
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio battled<span style="color: Red;">*</span>for a distant second, according to early returns, while Ben Carson and John Kasich were well back in single digits.
As caucuses were ongoing, reports emerged of problems<span style="color: Red;">*</span>at some locations.
Voters and journalists in Nevada<span style="color: Red;">*</span>on social media noted problems at several caucus<span style="color: Red;">*</span>sites, including organizers wearing Trump and Rubio gear, a lack of ballots, late starts, long lines, and the fact that ballots included the names of 11 candidates,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>including candidates who have dropped out of the race.
New: People registered for precinct 1303 in Sierra Vista showed up to caucus. There was literally no site set up.
— Elaina Plott (@elainaplott) February 24, 2016
The Nevada Republican Party tweeted that "there have been no official reports of voting irregularities or violations" at caucus sites. It also said it is not against the rules for volunteers at caucus sites to wear campaign gear.
Rubio, appearing at a casino in Las Vegas<span style="color: Red;">*</span>early Tuesday morning, reminded backers to look up the locations of their caucus sites: "Make sure you know exactly where to go tonight — it's that important."
The Florida senator later left Nevada, before the caucuses began, to campaign in Minnesota and Michigan.
USA TODAY
Nevada Republican caucuses: A viewer's guide
USA TODAY
USA TODAY's 2016 Presidential Poll Tracker
It appeared to be another record Republican turnout in Nevada, just as in the previous GOP contests in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina.
The win puts Trump in a commanding position ahead of 11 state delegate contests next Tuesday.
Polls of caucus goers in Nevada indicated an angry Republican electorate, many of whom went for Trump because thet want an "outsider" for their candidate. GOP voters concerned with the illegal immigration issue also strongly backed Trump.
In recent days, Rubio and Cruz spent as much time fighting each other in Nevada<span style="color: Red;">*</span>as the front-running Trump, though there are signs that is changing.
Rubio appeared to refer to Trump when he told supporters in Vegas that "being angry is not a plan," and voters should not go for "the loudest person in the room."
Cruz, who has argued for days that Trump is more liberal than conservative, told Nevada backers Tuesday that the billionaire's views "change every day" with the political winds.
During a<span style="color: Red;">*</span>rally in Sparks, Nev., earlier Tuesday, Trump called Cruz a liar who engaged in dirty tricks, and warned supporters to look out for "dishonest stuff" during the caucuses.
As for his other major rival in Nevada,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"I've been very nice to Rubio, because he hasn't hit me. When he does, you will see what happens."
USA TODAY
Marco Rubio doesn't need an outright win ... for now
The caucuses followed a difficult moment for Cruz. On Monday, the Texas senator<span style="color: Red;">*</span>fired his communications director Rick Tyler<span style="color: Red;">*</span>over social media postings of an<span style="color: Red;">*</span>article making the false claim that Rubio mocked the Bible. The Texas senator, who has been criticized by Trump and Rubio for questionable campaign tactics, said Tyler made "a grave error in judgement."
Speaking with reporters,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Rubio said<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that Cruz made Tyler the "fall guy" for a campaign culture of dirty tricks that Cruz embodies. Trump told<span style="color: Red;">*</span>backers at a Las Vegas rally on Monday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>that Cruz is a liar and added that "this guy is sick — there's something wrong with this guy."
On Tuesday, Trump tweeted that Cruz "panicked" and was "disloyal" to his spokesman.
Wow was Ted Cruz disloyal to his very capable director of communication. He used him as a scape goat-fired like a dog! Ted panicked.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 23, 2016
Rubio, who narrowly edged Cruz for second place in South Carolina, entered the caucuses with endorsements from high-profile Nevada Republicans, such as Sen. Dean Heller.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>The Florida senator<span style="color: Red;">*</span>told voters in Las Vegas that "I'm a conservative who can unite<span style="color: Red;">*</span>this party" ahead of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the fall election<span style="color: Red;">*</span>after a fractious primary process.
Cruz, meanwhile,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>said he was<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the only Republican candidate who can beat Trump, having done so in the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 1,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>while Rubio has not won anything.
Like his opponents, Cruz said<span style="color: Red;">*</span>turnout is even more important for caucuses.
"Nevada has a voice," Cruz told supporters Monday<span style="color: Red;">*</span>at a neighborhood YMCA in northern Las Vegas.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"You have an opportunity to make a real and meaningful difference."
Cruz, who has attacked Rubio as being weak on<span style="color: Red;">*</span>immigration, also raised the stakes on that issue in Nevada,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>vowing to deport an<span style="color: Red;">*</span>estimated 12 million people who are in the country illegally. Rubio has described that idea as expensive and impractical.
Ted Cruz speaks during a campaign event in Las Vegas on Feb. 22, 2016.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Josh Edelson, AFP/Getty Images)
Both Rubio and Cruz are seeking to be the sole alternative to the front-running Trump, though there are no indications that any other candidates plan to drop out.
Carson, the retired neurosurgeon, told supporters after the Nevada caucuses that<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"I believe things are starting to happen here," ahead of next week's contests.
Kasich, the governor of Ohio,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>has spent most<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>his time campaigning in states that vote next week and month. He was in Georgia on Tuesday
Supporters who turned out to see Trump in Las Vegas on Monday said they like his attacks on the government<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and that he is a businessman who is financing his own campaign.
Mercedes Fenyves, 45, a family caretaker from nearby Boulder City, said Trump may sometimes be "harsh," but "his being able to speak his mind overshadows everything." Fenyves said she is having trouble making ends meet, and the struggling middle class needs things to change.
Lynn MacFarlane, 57, a Las Vegas businesswoman who attended a Cruz event, said Trump "flip-flops" too much for her taste, while Cruz is a "consistent conservative."
USA TODAY
Elections 2016 | USA TODAY Network
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