DHAKA: Donald Trump has won the South Carolina primary in the Republican race for president, cementing his status as the man to beat for his party's nomination.

In the Democratic contest, Hillary Clinton beat Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders in a tight race in Nevada, reports the BBC.

Both results will be key ahead of the "Super Tuesday" round on 1 March, when a dozen more states make their choice.

The Trump victory claimed a major scalp when former Florida Governor Jeb Bush dropped out of the race.

He finished a distant fourth, days after his brother, former President George W Bush, made a rare political appearance to boost his flagging campaign.

Republican senators Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio were locked in a battle for second place in the state.

Hillary Clinton is breathing a sigh of relief, while the Republican faithful wonder where their party is headed.

The former secretary of state has now put a disheartening defeat in New Hampshire behind her. A loss in Nevada could have sent her campaign reeling.

Instead, she heads to what should be a friendly reception in South Carolina next week with the possibility of starting a winning streak that she could ride to the nomination.

For Republicans, Donald Trump is the one boasting a winning streak. He has a second-place finish in Iowa and double-digit victories in New Hampshire and now in South Carolina.

BDST: 1622 HRS, FEB 21, 2016
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