Cruz can look as strong in upcoming primaries as he did in Texas and Oklahoma on Tuesday.
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Democrat Bernie Sanders picked up a home-state win as well, in Vermont, and won in Oklahoma, too.
On the Democratic side, Mrs Clinton had already secured three wins in the first four early-voting states and has led significantly among blocs of black voters there.
“That is the only way to defeat Donald Trump”, Cruz, surrounded by supporters, said as returns showed Trump’s delegate count growing.
Mr Trump, speaking at a news conference in his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, said he had “expanded the Republican party”, claiming he is responsible for higher voter turnout in the primary states. “I think it’s time to start thinking about coming together and unifying and presenting a clear choice”.
Today’s elections, many of them in southern states where the Democratic electorate includes large shares of African American voters, are friendly territory for Clinton. “We have to make America whole… and fill in what’s been hollowed out”. “And if I don’t, he’s going to have to pay a big price”, said Trump.
Trump also scored wins in Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and MA. And under Vermont’s proportional allocation rules, Kasich will win some delegates.
No matter how the delegate math shakes out, the primary races are not over – yet.
Super Tuesday is the biggest single day of state-by-state contests to select party nominees for the November 8 election to succeed Democratic President Barack Obama.
The establishment’s last opportunity to stop the former reality television star is likely a series of winner-take-all states on March 15.
AARON JOSEFCZYK/REUTERS Donald Trump was declared victor in Georgia on Super Tuesday.
Cruz clearly had the better night. NBC is projecting that Sanders has won Colorado’s primary caucus.
Both Senators Cruz and Rubio have ramped up their anti-Trump rhetoric over the past week, in a bid to halt his commanding lead in the race. But Trump edged him out in the end.
Although, Mr Sanders will have been pleased by the emotionald and psychological boost of that win, Georgia and Virginia, which carry 116 and 110 delegates respectively for the Democrats, and 79 and 49 delegates for the Republican, would have been much bigger prizes.
“It is good to be home”, he said, before shifting to his stump speech slams against a “corrupt campaign finance system”.
Rubio had taken the stage earlier in Miami, exuding confidence nonetheless as the race moves to Florida in two weeks.
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Ben Carson is in…
