If Senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are to ever hope of making the Republican presidential race at least a close contest with front-runner Donald Trump, they will need all the prayers and support of their Christian supporters to score much needed victories in the upcoming "Super Tuesday 1" or the "SEC Primary" this March 1.
Nine state primaries and two caucuses will be held across the United States in what Cruz predicted would be the most important date of the 2016 election process, Charisma News reported.
The nine states holding primaries on March 1 are Alabama, Georgia, Vermont, Virginia, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas and Arkansas. The two caucuses will be held in Minnesota and Alaska.
Cruz can keep up with Trump with a solid performance, particularly in his home state of Texas, according to Charisma News' Bob Eschliman.
Some analysts believe that even a few wins by Cruz or Rubio could still dent the image of Trump as an unbeatable candidate.
More delegates can be won on Super Tuesday than on any other single day of the U.S. primary calendar. As such, presidential candidates must do well on this day to secure their party's nomination. Convincing wins in Super Tuesday primaries have usually propelled candidates to their party's nomination.
According to Real Clear Politics, Trump is leading in nine of the March 1 events, while Cruz is leading in his home state of Texas and in Arkansas.
Charisma News provides a state-by-state outlook of the electoral contests, including the polling numbers and delegate count. Delegates will be awarded proportionally to the candidates without a minimum threshold.
Alabama: 50 delegates
In the latest polling, Trump leads Cruz by 20 points, 35 percent to 15 percent.
Georgia: 76 delegates
Based on the latest polls, Trump leads Rubio by 10 points, 33 percent to 23 percent, with Cruz in third spot at 20 percent.
Vermont: 16 delegates
Trump leads Rubio in the most recent polling by 15 points, 32 percent to 17 percent, with Cruz in third at 11 percent.
Virginia: 49 delegates
Trump leads Rubio in the most recent polling by 6 points, 28 percent to 22 percent, with Cruz in third spot at 19 percent.
Massachusetts: 42 delegates
Currently, Trump leads Rubio in the most recent polling by 34 points, 50 percent to 16 percent, with Cruz in fourth at 10 percent. This is a state to watch as it could provide Trump with a delegate majority, another of the eight necessary to qualify for the GOP nomination under current party rules.
Oklahoma: 43 delegates
Currently, Trump leads Cruz in the most recent polling by 5 points, 30-25, with Rubio in third at 21 percent.
Tennessee: 58 delegates
This state will hold an open primary where voters can participate in the party primary of their choice—either Republican or Democratic. Analysts consider this as a toss-up state that could go to any candidate since there are no polling numbers available.
Texas: 155 delegates
This is considered as the crown jewel of "Super Tuesday I," and Cruz's home state. Like in Tennessee, it is an open primary where voters can participate in the party primary of their choice. Here, Cruz leads Trump by 5 points, 34-29, in the latest polling with Rubio in third at 20 percent.
Arkansas: 40 delegates
This state will also hold an open primary. The latest poll shows Cruz leading Trump by 4 points, 27-23.
Minnesota Caucus: 38 delegates
This state holds an open caucus where voters can participate in the party caucus of their choice. Delegates will be awarded in a "winner-take-most" fashion where all of the delegates are awarded to the winner if he surpasses 50; they are awarded proportionately if he does not. In the most recent polling held in January, Rubio leads Cruz by 2 points, 23-21, with Trump in third at 18 percent.
Alaska Caucus: 28 delegates
This state holds a closed caucus with come-and-go voting, similar to Nevada. Delegates will be awarded proportionally without a minimum threshold. In the most recent polling conducted last January, Trump leads Cruz by 4 points.
Wyoming and Colorado will also hold caucuses next Tuesday, but the state's 26 and 37 delegates, respectively, are not bound to the results of any straw poll. Instead, they are awarded based on the outcome of district and state GOP conventions.
Following his victory in Nevada on Tuesday, Trump secured his first two endorsements from members of Congress: Reps. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., and Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., WND reported.
