What if Trump or Cruz wins the SC primary?

Four former S.C. Republican Party chairs and the current chairman give their take on what it would mean to the party if one of the GOP presidential front-runners considered political outsiders, New York billionaire Donald Trump or U.S. Sen. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, wins the state’s Feb. 20 primary:

▪ Barry Wynn (chair, 1990-93): “It shows the new coalition that’s different than the coalition that elected Carroll Campbell, Jim DeMint, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott. There’s nothing wrong with that. It creates a new energy and new excitement. Sometimes these things self-correct.”

▪ Katon Dawson (chair, 2002-09): “We’re up for grabs. Evangelicals are no longer the monolith bloc anymore. Our Republican base is more indicative of the rest of the country. This might be the party for now on."

▪ Karen Floyd (chair, 2009-11): She expects the S.C. primary again to pick the GOP’s nominee as it has all but once since 1980. “I think there’s a reason for everything.”

▪ Chad Connelly (chair, 2011-13): “South Carolina will matter for a long time. Anybody the Republicans nominate will be better than the train wreck of a disaster (Democratic front-runner) Hillary Clinton will be.”

▪ Matt Moore (chair, 2013-present): “South Carolina has shown a tendency for doing the unexpected in the past six years (since electing Republican Gov. Nikki Haley). ... A party discussing its future is a good thing. If you’re standing still, you’re going backwards.”