Fighting for the minority vote. Can clinton keep nevada in her column or can sanders sway the silver state. Plus, get on with it. Straight talk from Sandra Day Oconnor over the open seat battle. Lets talk live in the cnn newsroom. Good morning. Im carol costello. The republican primary in South Carolina two days away, and the candidates are sprinting to the finish line in round one of the cnns town hall with us, anderson cooper, the candidates made their closing arguments selling themselves, jabbing at one another and condemning the nasty tone that infuses the race. I said hooees been lying because if you Say Something thats not true over and over again and you know its not true, theres no other word for it. Both trump and rubio are following a pattern that whenever anyone points to their actual record to what theyve said, to what theyve voted on or done, they start screaming liar, liar yarks liar. It is the oddest thing. I cant think of any previous president ial election i think the American People are smart enough to be able to understand bluster and rhetoric versus truth. Tonight round two of the cnn town hall meetings. John kasich, jeb bush, and trump, will field questions directly from the voters. Also barbara bush, the former first lady hoping to bolster the sagging campaign of her son, jeb. Lets begin our coverage with athena jones. Good morning. Reporter good morning. There was some fire last night, some attacks. We heard, as you played, some of the repetition of the claims that one or another candidate is a liar. We also saw some moments from the personal side of some of the candidates like marco rubio talking act whether he experienced racism growing up. And perhaps one of the most interesting things that senator rubio said was when he made note of the fact that he had just been endorsed by an indian american, governor nikki haley of South Carolina. He also has been endorsed by a black republican, tim scott, a senator from South Carolina, and that the three of them would be campaigning together. It was in line with the argument that hes making about his candidacy being one about the future of the republican party. And that mention of diversity was in line with that argument. We also heard from ted cruz talking about the fact that he is a u. S. Citizen and eligible to run for president. Take a listen to that. I was a citizen by birth by virtue of my mothers citizenship. It was a act of being born that made me a u. S. Citizen. The question is clear. There will be some who try to work political mischief on this, but as a legal matter, its done. Hes talking about donald trump who has threatened to file a lawsuit challenge cruzs ability to run. There were some lighter moments amid the attacks. We got to hear that carson likes Classical Music and playing pool. And cruz likes to try to sing to his wife. The event covered all sorts of ground last night. Tonight, as you mentioned, well be looking to hear from donald trump, john kasich, and jeb bush. Barbara bush joining on the campaign trail later today and tonight. Shes trying to help her son do well here in this key state. A state thats been very good to bushes in the past. This is a contest that could really be a make or break moment for the campaign. Athena jones reporting live from South Carolina. Cruz enjoying a major perk of last nights forum. He could reel against trump without trump reeling back. Well expect that to change tonight in the town hall meetings. We are joined now from greenville, South Carolina with the trump side of the story. Good morning. Reporter good morning. The Cruz Campaign, of course, watching very closely what donald trump does next. And what hell say at tonight ee east cnn town hall. Weve seen cruz in the last 24 hours go on the offense on this issue, saying over this threat of lawsuit, go ahead, sue me. Really issuing a big dare to donald trump. And the Cruz Campaign is pushing this issue really forcefully because they think it works for them. Not only are we spending the last day, really, talking about in the terms of this lawsuit, Donald Trumps record on abortion, but also they think that this reveals something about Donald Trumps authenticity, his character, his honesty, and theyre happy with the contrast that draws with ted cruz. Thats why weve seen ted cruz, like last night at the cnn town hall, lay into donald trump over this. Heres what he had to say. I dont think anyone is surprised that donald is threatening to sue people. Hes done that most of his adult life. But this letter really was i practiced law 20 years, and this letter really pressed the bounds of the most frivolous and ridiculous letters ive seen. Most of the word on the ad are his own words, and his argument in the letter is running his own words was defamation. It is, quite literally, the most ridiculous theory. Telling the voters what his actual record is is deceitful and lying. Reporter we saw ted cruz last night celebrate a new nbc poll which showed him inching ahead slielghtly ahead of donal trump. He said i am the new National Front runner, but there is a new poll out this morning from cbs which shows an entirely different landscape. That shows trump nationally ahead 35 to cruz at 18 . Well behind him there, nationally. Really shows the state of the play, and that poll is more consistent with other polls were seeing which still points to donald trump being the National Front runner. That is true. Reporting live from greenville, this morning. Lets talk about this. A trump supporter is here along with an editor of the daily beast good morning. Kailee, donald trump participates in tonights town hall. Will he go on the attack against cruz in. I think well expect to see him address the question. Last night ted cruz said truth matters. But then he went onto mischaracterize Donald Trumps record as hes done on planned parenthood and the Second Amendment and samesex marriage. He is saying patently false things about trumps record. He says trump does not want to defund planned parenthood. False. He calls it an abortion factory saying they treat baby parts like automobile parts. Thats false. We will expect to see donald trump address that and see him be good and engaging with voters. Voters like him. Well also see that personal side of donald trump. One caveat, theres no evidence that planned parenthood trades baby parts like auto parts. I want to make that clear. Appreciate that clarification. Some truth in journalism, right . Facts, you know. Facts. So, john, why does trump feel the need to attack cruz so fiercely when in most polls he leads cruz by double digits . Well, i think trump embodies the idea that in politics as in sports, the best defense is a good offense. Thats worked for him well, and cruz is the guy if second place. Hes been closing the gap in some states. Now that their bromance broke up a few months ago, this is really vicious. Its personal. The cease and desist letters are a little ridiculous, but theres something absurd about them both calling each other liar. They both have a tenuous relationship with the truth at times. I want to talk about rubio for a second. Nikki haley took the stage with him today. How much was nikki haleys endorsement help marco rubio . Whats interesting is that nikki haley decided to wait three days before the vote to endorse. Last time she endorsed romney a month ahead of time. She is one of the most popular governors in america right now. Certainly one of the most popular republican governors. Well over 55 of the state approves of her coming off of her really daft handling in the wake of the horrible shootings and taking down the con fred rat flag. This matters to rubio. And this broke against jeb bush. Jeb bush was hoping for that endorsement. It helps consolidate rubio as this third place candidate in South Carolina. When you look at last nights town hall, you have cruz and rubio, both vying for second in South Carolina. But a really different approach between them. Cruz was clearly going after values voters and South Carolina and the sec primary participants. Rubios message while still tenable to those voters was really more geared toward the general electorate. He spoke about broader themes and unifying themes. He didnt hit social issues like cruz. He didnt hit some of the really important issues that and sort of dog whistle issues that conservatives need to hear. And so what marco is doing is this is puts wind in his sails. It gives a new face to the party and it sort of gives him momentum going into beyond the sec primary in the south. Lets talk about these influential political types in South Carolina. Kailee, why didnt tim scott or nikki haley get behind donald trump. Heres the thing. They want a mainstream sort of establishment guy. They want someone who has held political office. Oftentimes we see people with political pedigree want people with political pedigree but nikki haley is tea party backed. She was endorsed by sarah palin. Shes a conservative woman, but she is still a political figure. A lot of people in politics have a problem with Donald Trumps rogue approach, saying it like it is, not the polished politician. He says whats on his heart and gets into the heart of American Voters with that. Nikki hold on here. Before we wrap them up a little bit too much in the american flag. She is tea party but not troll party. Thats the difference. The endorsement of tim scott and ma nikki haley hearts. The republicans have a more diverse field of statewide elected than the democrats. In South Carolina has one of the most diverse statewide elected slates in the country. The fact that haley and rubio and scott are standing together sends a message about the future of the republican party. Trump has a lot of support, but its not a great shock that the next generation of republican politicians dont look at him and see this guy is appealing to the future as much as the reaction to the past. Theres a reason ben carson and trump have been rejected from the get go. They dont fit the political to both of you, this is an outsiders year. There are people who feel disenfranchised by the system, and the republican party, whoever it is, has to get the trump voters. There are personny sanders people who want an outsider and want somebody to represent a voice they feel has gone unrepresented. Republicans are going to have to figure out a way to do. I have to leave it there. Thank you to all of you. Still to come in the news room, as the battle intensifies to fill scalias chair, we know who wont be filling one at his funeral. That would be president obama. 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For a free quote, call Liberty Mutual at switch to Liberty Mutual and you could save up to 509 call today at see Car Insurance in a whole new light. Liberty mutual insurance. President obama will visit cuba next month. He tweeted the news about the trip last hour. Its been 90 years since a sitting u. S. President visited the island nation. The Obama Administration reopened ties with them, and the president will make his way to cuba soon. One place the president will not be is at justice antonin scalias funeral service. The white house says mr. Obama will, instead, pay his respects on friday. This is partisan tensions intensify to fill the seat. Heres where the Senate Stands right now. All 46 Democratic Senators say mr. Obama should nominate a successor. Of the 54 republican senators, 29 say the senate should in the confirm the nominee, whoever it is. With me now is chris freights, and manu raju. Lets start with manu. Give us the latest reaction to president obama not attending the funeral. Reporter youre hearing a fair amount of criticism from the republican side, but a lot of democrats puzzled. They are questioning why give republicans more fodder as we head into the battle. The White House Press secretary was asked about it and he gave us a little bit of a sense of what the president was going to do this weekend. I dont have a sense of what the president s plans are for saturday. The president , obviously, believes its important for the institution of the presidency to pay his respects to somebody who dedicated three decades of his life to the institution of the supreme court. It will be an important moment. Well have some more details for you at about the president s plans for friday and saturday. Reporter now, after the funeral arrangements and funeral concluded for justice slcalia, well head into the fight. What weve learned over the last several days is it looks increasingly unlikely that the republicans will do anything in the sthaenate, even confirmatio hearings. Were hearing republicans who asay this nominee is not going to be confirmed, so why go through the process and why give a nominee a chance to talk and build momentum behind their case, to potentially shine when the National Spotlight is on them . They think its better. A lot of republicans think its better the not move forward at all, top it in its tracks immediately. Republicans will gather next week in the senate for the First Time SinceJustice Scalias death and talk about their strategy. Right now it sounds increasingly unlikely there will be confirmation hearings. Thank you, manu. Chris, were hearing about this from Sandra Day Oconnor. Whats her take . The retired justice was appointed by ronald reagan, the republican president back in the 1980s. Shes saying the senate should move forward, the president should get a nomination and they should move the nomination forward. Its to important the wait. She was asked by a local phoenix tv station about it. Heres what she had to say. I dont agree. I think we need somebody there now to do the job, and lets get on with it. So there you have justice oh connor weighing in. In thats unlikely to sway as we heard manu talk about, Many Republican senators. Senator rubio and cruz are running for president. They believe the next president should get that choice, unsurprisingly. That lines up well with what Mitch Mcconnell said after the passing. He believes the next president should get this. Republicans pointing to polls starting to come out showing that americans are split on this. Theres a split among those who believe that they should get a vote this year or that we should wait until the next president. Not surprisingly, republicans favor waiting until the next president. Democrats favor giving this president his shot. And independents are also split. Republicans as manu pointed out, dont feel theres a lot to gain. The white house will say its the constitutional responsibility of the senate to pick this up and do confirmation hearings and have a vote. Republicans dont feel the same way. They say we just have to advise and convensent. If we dont do anything, were not consenting. Thank you. Coming up next, women serving in combat. Its important in South Carolina. Up next i sit with two female marines who have very different views. There were instances in which i took enemy fire and i had to provide fire. It follows suit with other destructive things that this administration has done with the military, and weakening it. Twell what if i told you that peanuts can work for you . Thats right. Im talking full time delivery of 7 grams of protein and 6 essential nutrients. Ever see a peanut take a day off . I dont think so. Harness the hardworking power of the peanut. A dead heat in nevada has Hillary Clinton clings to a one point lead over bernie sanders. Now with the vote days away, clinton is on the ground in nevada hoping to rally her supporters at an event in las vegas. Joe johns has more for you. Good morning. Reporter good morning, carol. A quick pivot for Hillary Clinton. S