Why Super Tuesday Matters

Happy Super Tuesday!

The largest chunk of delegates up for grabs in both parties will be awarded Tuesday in what will likely be a pivotal day in the race. For Hillary Clinton, it’s the opportunity to pull ahead of Bernie Sanders in pledged delegates, and for Republicans it will send fears about Donald Trump into overdrive—though it may be too late to stop him. It could send at least one candidate, Ted Cruz, packing if he doesn’t win his home state, while another Ben Carson, has been an afterthought but may bow out due to lackluster fundraising.

The day comes as Republicans are wrestling with what type of party do they want. Are they willing to roll the dice with Trump as their standard-bearer, or are they going to throw the book and him until there’s no hope yet? This week, at least, the fight is on, as candidates and outside groups are simultaneously hitting Trump on an array of business deals and personal statements that they argue are disqualifying. Trump threatened to file suit against the group behind the ads—except his campaign got their anti-Trump efforts confused, sending the statement to the wrong group. Another anti-Trump spot on Trump University was released Tuesday morning by yet a different group.

For Marco Rubio and John Kasich, Super Tuesday is about staying alive—just picking up enough delegates to claim some nationwide support as they bide their time for their home state races on March 15. Kasich has also invested heavily in Michigan, which votes March 8, but has since found the state’s politics to be less hospitable than hoped.

Sanders raised more than $42 million in the month of February from 1.4 million contributions averaging $30 a piece, his campaign announced early Tuesday, including $6 million on Monday alone. That total will keep him in the race and as a political thorn in Clinton’s side even if his mathematical path to the nomination narrows.

What did Trump tell the New York Times about immigration. How cheap gas can hurt Ted Cruz in Texas. And how the Clinton’s are preparing to beat Trump.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

5 Things to Watch on Super Tuesday
Can anyone slow the Trump Train and can Sanders argue he’s still a viability, and other questions from TIME’s Philip Elliott and Sam Frizell

The GOP’s Trump Choice: Live With Him, Or Lose Trying To Stop Him
Is the Grand Old Party willing to roll the dice with Donald Trump as its standard-bearer? [TIME]

Inside the Clintons’ Plan to Defeat Donald Trump
The Democrats prepare to destroy The Donald [New York Times]

How Cheap Gas Might Hurt Ted Cruz
TIME’s Philip Elliott and Haley Sweetland Edwards on how an oil crash hurts the home state Senator

Donald Trump Secretly Told the New York Times What He Really Thinks About Immigration
An off the record conversation reveals his real thinking [BuzzFeed]

Marco Rubio Supporters Are Displeased By His Mudslinging — But Say It’s Necessary
“In order to play with the pig you have to get dirty” [Wall Street Journal]

Overshadowed by Trump and Rubio, Cruz Looks to Texas for His Last Stand
Tuesday’s primary in the Lone Star State is crucial to his survival in the GOP race [Washington Post]

Sound Off

“Because I don’t want to.” — Chris Christie at a press conference he called Monday on why he declined to take questions about his endorsement of Donald Trump

“Are you from Mexico? Are you from Mexico? Are you from Mexico?” — Donald Trump to a protester at a campaign rally

Bits and Bites

Watch Marco Rubio Sharpen His Attacks on Donald Trump [TIME]

The Air Force Wants Your Help Naming Its New B-21 Bomber [TIME]

Cruz and Rubio Call on Trump to Release New York Times Interview Tapes [TIME]

Melania Trump on Her Husband: ‘He Knows the Consequences’ [TIME]

Last of Hillary Clinton’s Emails Released By State Department [Associated Press]

Jane Sanders on the Campaign Plane: ‘Those Issues and Bernie, They’re Not Going Away’ [Washington Post]

Donald Trump Blames Earpiece for Declining to Disavow David Duke [New York Times]