Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Donald Trump each won seven state presidential primaries on Super Tuesday among the 11 contested.
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While Sanders won his home state of Vermont, as well as Oklahoma, Colorado and Minnesota, Clinton took the majority of the Super Tuesday wins, including in delegate-rich places like Virginia and Texas.
With Trump looking the most likely candidate to gain the Republican nomination, winning in states nationwide, the billionnaire businessman called himself a “unifier”. According to the most recent CNN/ORC poll, Clinton could win in a general election with Trump as her opponent, but could lose to both Rubio (47% to 50%) and, narrowly, to Cruz (48% to 49%).
“Realistically, the best thing we can do is continue to challenge her … and not just for Hillary Clinton’s sake, but for the sake of the Democratic party”, Devine said.
When added to her massive lead among the party’s superdelegates, Clinton is now in as strong a position to win the Democratic nomination as she’s ever been.
Sanders takes four Bernie Sanders, the Vermont senator challenging Ms Clinton, won four states.
He wrote in POLITICO magazine in July that a long primary battle between Clinton and Sanders would undermine the chances that a candidate who supports progressive policies would make it to the White House.
Yesterday’s conventional wisdom: Trump will win 10 to 12 Super Tuesday states and come away with 300 delegates. Ted Cruz won three states, bolstering his claim to being the only viable Trump alternative, though he now heads for less friendly territory. “I think we’ll be a much bigger party”, Trump said.
Florida Senator Rubio scored his first victory on Tuesday in the Minnesota caucuses. “I ask you to prayerfully consider our coming together, united”.
This could all change on March 15 in the Florida primary – his home state – where the victor will claim all the delegates.
One scenario is for Rubio and Cruz to stay in the race if only to prevent Trump from achieving the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination.
With most precincts having now reported their results, Trump’s total number of delegates has risen to 285, leaving him 952 people short of winning the nomination.
In the latest Florida poll (Feb. 26) Trump was leading Rubio in his home state of Florida by 20 percentage points. The wins reflected her strength in the South, where black voters are an important part of the Democratic base.
Two other Republican candidates – Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson – came up empty handed on Super Tuesday.
Sanders’ wins did little to help him make up ground in his delegate race with Clinton.
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Trump now needs 918 delegates, which many political experts believe is doable given his national popularity.
