What if Donald Trump becomes the next US President?

South Carolina made Donald Trump the clear front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, revived Marco Rubio's campaign and sounded the death knell for Jeb Bush.

The New York businessman won his second convincing victory in a week, following New Hampshire. Rubio, pronounced dead after a dismal New Hampshire performance, was locked in a tight battle with Ted Cruz for second place, well ahead of the rest of the field. Bush, trailing badly, dropped out as the South Carolina results came in.

Trump's win in the Palmetto State, with very different Republican voters from New Hampshire’s, confirmed that he commands such a fervent following that episodes that would undo conventional candidates don't hurt him. He came across as rude and boorish in a South Carolina debate when he seemed to blame former President George W. Bush for the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Then he engaged in a public quarrel with Pope Francis. Then he won decisively -- and failed to mention Jeb Bush in his victory statement.
The contest also settled the issue of which Floridian would move on, propelling Senator Rubio forward and ending the once formidable-seeming campaign of former Governor Bush.

The billionaire New Yorker's South Carolina triumph puts him in a commanding but not invincible position. To win three of the first four contests and then fade would be unprecedented in modern politics. Still, hurdles stand in his path.

strange indeed