Hillary Clinton, facing the real possibility of losing Iowa and New Hampshire to Bernie Sanders, is trying to lock down African-American voters’ support to repel Sanders in South Carolina and beyond.

The Hill writes that not everyone believes the idea of a “firewall” for Clinton is a sure thing in South Carolina, which holds its Democratic presidential primary on Feb. 27.

“In an election year when just about every narrative, every piece of conventional wisdom, has been turned on its head, I’m at a loss for words when the media talk about a firewall,” an influential black Democrat who requested anonymity told the Hill. Clinton enjoys a big lead among black voters in South Carolina, where more than half the Democratic votes cast in the 2008 contest were from African-Americans. Iowa and New Hampshire hold their contests on Feb. 1 and Feb. 9, respectively.

Also read:Bernie Sanders has Hillary Clinton on the ropes over her ties to Wall Street.

Steyer open to Sanders:Billionaire environmental activist Tom Steyer, one of the biggest Democratic donors, says he isn’t yet prepared to back Clinton and wouldn’t rule out supporting Sanders. Steyer tells Reuters: “Our real goal has been not to support any one candidate, but to emphasize and highlight the issue (of climate change) so that the candidates can lay out their solutions and so the American people can have a chance to make a decision.”

Steyer could help Clinton boost her standing among environmental activists, a key Democratic constituency.

Cruz blasts Branstad: Ted Cruz dismissed Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad as a crony capitalist who is part of the Republican establishment hours after Branstad said he didn’t want the Texas senator to win the Iowa caucuses.

“It is no surprise that the establishment is in full panic mode,” Cruz told reporters in New Hampshire, according to Politico. “We said from the beginning that the Washington cartel was going to panic more and more.” Branstad had criticized Cruz over his opposition to the renewable fuel standard.

Rubio’s long haul: Florida Sen. Marco Rubio is increasingly relying on a national strategy as he lowers expectations for February’s primary contests under pressure to emerge as the Republican mainstream’s presidential contender.

Rubio, the Associated Press writes, is betting big that Republican voters across the political spectrum will ultimately coalesce behind his candidacy in the state-by-state slog for delegates his team envisions in the coming months. Rubio is embracing a patient approach that goes well beyond the states with February contests: Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

Also read:When is my state’s primary?

Immigration case and the GOP: The timing of the Supreme Court’s review of President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration couldn’t come at a more awkward time for a Republican Party trying to woo Hispanic voters, Reuters writes.

A decision in the case is due by the end of June, squarely in the middle of the presidential race and just weeks before Republicans gather to choose a nominee at their convention. A win for the states that sued to block Obama’s action would have conservatives celebrating, but may have those in the party who are concerned about reaching Hispanic voters fretting, Reuters says.