February 25, 2016 5:50 PM EST
O nly five Republican and two Democratic candidates remain in the race for the White House. This past week, both South Carolina and Nevada went to the polls, handing Donald Trump the victories he needed to reinforce his control over the GOP field and helping Hillary Clinton retake some of the momentum that had been credited to her competitor, Bernie Sanders.
This week, in our selection of the most surprising political photographs, we turned our attention towards the props and people that make this campaign into an outlandish show.
——TIME’s selection of the Surprising Political Photographs of the Week is published every Thursday.
Signs direct supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump toward his campaign's Victory Party at Treasure Island in Las Vegas on Feb. 23, 2016. Nate Gowdy Notes appear on a teleprompter after Democratic presidential candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke at a campaign rally at Texas Southern university on Feb. 20, 2016 in Houston. Justin Sullivan—Getty Images Chelsea and Bill Clinton, watch Hillary Clinton speak at a campaign rally at the Clark County Government Center in Las Vegas on Feb. 19, 2016. David Becker—Reuters A supporter wears a sign at a rally for Republican presidential candidate Marco Rubio at Texas Station in North Las Vegas on Feb. 21, 2016. Ruth Fremson—The New York Times/Redux Supporters watch Hillary Clinton speak during a rally on Feb. 19, 2016, in Las Vegas. John Locher—AP Republican presidential candidate Ohio Gov. John Kasich takes off his sweater during a campaign town hall meeting in Worcester, Mass. on Feb. 20, 2016. Brian Snyder—Reuters A glass of water for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is placed on a chair at a rally on Feb. 21, 2016, in North Las Vegas. Jae C. Hong—AP Gil Mobley wears a costume in the likeness of Donald Trump in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas on Feb. 23, 2016. Josh Edelson—AFP/Getty Images Ali Ennenga, left, has a hand on the head of her husband, Karl, before an appearance by Republican presidential candidate, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz at Durango Hills Community Center on Feb. 22, 2016, in Las Vegas. Jae C. Hong—AP Anita Brown, a volunteer for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, makes phone calls from a campaign field office to encourage people to vote on Feb. 24, 2016 in Columbia, S.C. Scott Olson—Getty Images A Ted Cruz supporter rides a hover-board to a Nevada Courageous Conservatives Rally with Glenn Beck and Ted Cruz in Henderson, Nev. on Feb. 21, 2016. Nate Gowdy More Must-Reads from TIME Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0 How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024 Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision