Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump were solidly on course yesterday for their party’s presidential nomination for the November general election after convincing wins in the latest batch of USA primary elections.
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For Republicans, 52 delegates are available and Donald Trump leads with 40.8 percent to Cruz’s 40.6 percent – a difference of 1,726 votes.
“I’m going to finish out my term in the Senate over the next 10 months, we’re going to work really hard here and we have something we want to achieve, and then I’ll be a private citizen in January”, he said. But not for Trump and the Republican candidates.
Trump’s Florida victory brought his delegate total to 621.
Sen. Marco Rubio announced Tuesday night he would suspend his campaign, after he failed to win his home state of Florida. Ted Cruz trailed close to hang on to third place, while Ohio Governor John Kasich barely hit double digits.
Mr Trump congratulated Mr Rubio on his campaign, but did not mention Mr Kasich or Mr Cruz.
The other important storyline was whether Bernie Sanders could pull off another upset victory in OH like he did in MI, both states where manufacturing jobs are vanishing and his message condemning USA foreign trade deals has gone over well.
The wins for Mrs Clinton added to her lead in pledged delegates, and appears to give her an nearly insurmountable edge over Mr Sanders.
“We’re going to go forward and we’re going to win”.
“While it is not God’s plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I’ve even come this far is evidence of how truly special America is”, Rubio said.
Trump won Florida and all of its 99 delegates, a big boost.
Speaking on the night, Cruz refused to acknowledge Kasich’s chances of getting involved in the race.
Shortly after Trump was declared the victor in winner-take-all Florida, Rubio addressed supporters in Miami with thank-yous as he admitted defeat and ended his pursuit of the presidency.
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The Democrats’ super delegates are party leaders, including all Democratic members of the Congress and sitting Democratic governors, who are free to support any candidate.
