Clinton, once seen as the clear favourite for the Democratic nomination, still faces a challenge from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who has shown surprising staying power after pulling off an upset victory in the industrial state of MI and is trying to build momentum in the Midwest.
Advertisement
Clinton’s victories in OH and Florida were a blow to rival Bernie Sanders and bolstered her argument that she’s the best Democratic candidate to take on the eventual Republican nominee in the general election.
Kasich entered the GOP presidential race as an underdog but surged to prominence after he secured second place in New Hampshire’s primary last month.
Full results from the state of Florida are not likely to arrive until well after 8 p.m. The most recent political polls have Clinton and Trump winning the Sunshine State. The Florida GOP primary is considered a pivotal moment in the campaign: The winner-takes-all contest means a huge boost.
She is also projected to win the North Carolina primary.
“I think it is important that we really do focus on the very unsafe path that Donald Trump has laid out here”, Clinton said.
As voters head to the polls in five early voting states Tuesday, presidential candidates in both parties zig-zagged across the country during last-ditch efforts to make an impression on constituents. In Florida and North Carolina, about 8 in 10 black voters supported her, and she also won support of about 7 in 10 Hispanic voters in Florida.
Sanders only mentioned Hillary Clinton twice during his Tuesday evening speech.
It was a night of relief-filled sighs and victory cheers for the Hillary Clinton campaign, as the Democratic front-runner racked up a convincing series of victories in Florida, North Carolina, and especially Ohio.
Republican presidential candidate John Kaisch votes in Columbus, Ohio on Super Tuesday on March 15, 2016. Clinton’s support fell by that same margin down to 48 percent, which is the first time since mid-February that her support level was below 50 percent. In Illinois, North Carolina and OH, those who made up their mind in the last week backed Sanders.
The violent atmosphere at some Trump events has deepened concern over his candidacy in some Republican circles.
Eight in 10 Democrats said they believed Clinton’s policies were realistic and want the next president to have political experience, a quality that favored Clinton.
A majority of Democratic primarygoers were nonwhite, according to an early release of exit poll data from Edison Research.
Preliminary results include interviews with 663 to 1,710 Democratic primary voters and 718 to 2,255 Republican primary voters in each state.
Advertisement
Early, incomplete returns Tuesday showed Trump capturing roughly 45 percent of the vote.
