1. Republican bloodsport
With the South Carolina primary a week out, Texas senator Ted Cruz opened up a full frontal assault on Donald Trump, the state leader by 17 points in (thin) polling averages.
Summary
Cruz produced a video ad slamming Trump for trying to eminent-domain a widow out of her Atlantic City home in the 90s so he could build a limousine parking lot.
Cruz camp: we did not know actor in ad used to work in porn
Trump threatens to sue Cruz over Canadian birth
If @TedCruz doesn’t clean up his act, stop cheating, & doing negative ads, I have standing to sue him for not being a natural born citizen. – @realdonaldtrump
Poignant thought of the day
How can Ted Cruz be an Evangelical Christian when he lies so much and is so dishonest?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 12, 2016
2. Democrats tussle at debate
At last night’s debate, Hillary Clinton accusing Bernie Sanders of failing to support Barack Obama. “One of us ran against Barack Obama,” Sanders retorted. “I was not that candidate.”
10 reasons why voters are turning to Bernie Sanders
Video: Democratic debate highlights
3. Democrats tied in Nevada, poll finds
The Democrats head next to Nevada, where caucuses have proven difficult to poll in the past. But Clinton can’t like a survey released Friday, which measured a 45-45 tie.
4. Freewheeling Kasich hits South Carolina
Ohio governor John Kasich, buoyed by a second-place New Hampshire finish but short on cash, won support from Ken Langone, the billionaire behind Home Depot.
Summary
In an upbeat stump appearance in Columbia, Kasich said volunteers were flooding his campaign, and paraphrased Jaws: “We need a bigger boat.”
5. George W Bush to hit trail for Jeb!
The 43rd president planned to appear at campaign events with his brother in South Carolina starting Monday. Give voters a taste of the good ol’ days.
... and one more thing:
First look at new @tedcruz ad in SC targeting @HillaryClinton and lampooning classic 'Office Space' scene https://t.co/Mu1YI4KJZJ
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) February 12, 2016
