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Trump and Clinton edge further out front after clinching key Florida primary Trump and Clinton edge further out front after clinching key Florida primary
(35 minutes later)
Hillary Clinton crushed hopes of a Bernie Sanders surge on a night of resounding wins that should allow her to focus increasingly on the looming challenge from Donald Trump in November.Hillary Clinton crushed hopes of a Bernie Sanders surge on a night of resounding wins that should allow her to focus increasingly on the looming challenge from Donald Trump in November.
Voters in the midwest battleground states of Ohio and Illinois backed Clinton on Tuesday night as Sanders was unable to build on last week’s surprise win in Michigan.Voters in the midwest battleground states of Ohio and Illinois backed Clinton on Tuesday night as Sanders was unable to build on last week’s surprise win in Michigan.
More huge wins for Clinton in Florida and North Carolina meant she was set to end the night winning four out of five states and claiming the vast majority of delegates up for grabs, with Sanders apparently heading for a narrow win in Missouri.More huge wins for Clinton in Florida and North Carolina meant she was set to end the night winning four out of five states and claiming the vast majority of delegates up for grabs, with Sanders apparently heading for a narrow win in Missouri.
Clinton told cheering supporters at a victory rally in West Palm Beach: “This is another Super Tuesday for our campaign … we are moving closer to securing the Democratic party nomination and winning this election in November.”Clinton told cheering supporters at a victory rally in West Palm Beach: “This is another Super Tuesday for our campaign … we are moving closer to securing the Democratic party nomination and winning this election in November.”
In the Republican race, Trump won heavily in Florida, crushing Marco Rubio in his home state and finally ending his presidential hopes. In the Republican race, Trump won heavily in Florida, crushing Marco Rubio in his home state and ending the senator’s his presidential hopes.
Ohio governor John Kasich placed a small speed bump in the billionaire’s path by winning in his home state and scooping up its 66 delegates. But Trump ended the night in the ascendancy as he recorded more wins in Illinois and North Carolina. Related: Marco Rubio ends presidential bid after Donald Trump takes Florida
Ohio governor John Kasich placed a small speed bump in Trump’s path by winning in his own home state and scooping up its 66 delegates. But Trump ended the night in the ascendancy as he recorded more wins in Illinois and North Carolina.
The Republican race is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and the Texas senator Ted Cruz.The Republican race is now down to three candidates: Trump, Kasich and the Texas senator Ted Cruz.
For Clinton, her target was clear. Tearing into Trump, she accused the Republican frontrunner of orchestrating a campaign founded on bigotry and bluster.For Clinton, her target was clear. Tearing into Trump, she accused the Republican frontrunner of orchestrating a campaign founded on bigotry and bluster.
“This is shaping up to be one of the most consequential campaigns of our lifetime,” she said. “The next president will sit down at that desk and start taking decisions that will affect the lives and livelihoods of everyone in this country, indeed everyone on the planet.”“This is shaping up to be one of the most consequential campaigns of our lifetime,” she said. “The next president will sit down at that desk and start taking decisions that will affect the lives and livelihoods of everyone in this country, indeed everyone on the planet.”
Clinton added: “Our next commander in chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it – engage our allies, not alienate them. When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, barring all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture, that doesn’t make him strong, it makes him wrong.”Clinton added: “Our next commander in chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it – engage our allies, not alienate them. When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, barring all Muslims from entering the United States, when he embraces torture, that doesn’t make him strong, it makes him wrong.”
Clinton’s night began with big victories in Florida and North Carolina – completing her clean sweep of the south. Minutes later, Associated Press also projected a crucial Clinton win in Ohio.Clinton’s night began with big victories in Florida and North Carolina – completing her clean sweep of the south. Minutes later, Associated Press also projected a crucial Clinton win in Ohio.
Results projected by the Associated Press as soon as polls closed at 8pm ET showed Clinton winning the Florida Democratic primary handsomely. With 98% of the votes in, she was 31 percentage points ahead of Bernie Sanders. Results projected by the Associated Press as soon as polls closed at 8pm ET showed Clinton winning the Florida Democratic primary handsomely. With 98% of the votes in, she was 31 points ahead of Bernie Sanders.
The news was greeted at her victory party in West Palm Beach by raucous chants of “I’m with her!” as a Jennifer Lopez song blared.The news was greeted at her victory party in West Palm Beach by raucous chants of “I’m with her!” as a Jennifer Lopez song blared.
Donald Trump was also immediately projected as the Florida winner. With 98% of the results in, Trump had an unassailable 18-point lead over Rubio.Donald Trump was also immediately projected as the Florida winner. With 98% of the results in, Trump had an unassailable 18-point lead over Rubio.
Crowds at the Rubio rally in Miami gasped at the news and broke into boos and chants of: “We want Marco!”Crowds at the Rubio rally in Miami gasped at the news and broke into boos and chants of: “We want Marco!”
Rubio soon emerged to congratulate Trump on a “big win” but decried the politics of anger and resentment and warned: “America is in the middle of a real political storm, a tsunami.”Rubio soon emerged to congratulate Trump on a “big win” but decried the politics of anger and resentment and warned: “America is in the middle of a real political storm, a tsunami.”
Bowing out of the race, Rubio said: “This may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic” candidate.Bowing out of the race, Rubio said: “This may not have been the year for a hopeful and optimistic” candidate.
North Carolina was next, last in a slew of southern states to have dominated the early primary season and helped both Clinton and Trump take commanding leads over their rivals.North Carolina was next, last in a slew of southern states to have dominated the early primary season and helped both Clinton and Trump take commanding leads over their rivals.
Strong support among African American voters once again helped Clinton beat Sanders in the south – she led North Carolina by a margin of 15 points with 74% of votes counted.Strong support among African American voters once again helped Clinton beat Sanders in the south – she led North Carolina by a margin of 15 points with 74% of votes counted.
Trump narrowly held off Cruz in North Carolina and then chalked up Illinois with a margin of 12 points with half of the votes were in. Trump narrowly held off Cruz in North Carolina and then chalked up Illinois with a margin of 12 points with half of the votes in.
Kasich was bullish after his victory in Ohio, but Cruz insisted he was now in a two-man race with Trump. However, Trump who has won 18 out of 27 states is in a dominant position. Kasich was bullish after his victory in Ohio, but Cruz insisted he was now in a two-man race with Trump. However, Trump who has won 18 out of 27 states, is in a dominant position.
Democrats are increasingly focused on the challenge of stopping Trump from making it all the way to the White House.Democrats are increasingly focused on the challenge of stopping Trump from making it all the way to the White House.
Without mentioning the celebrity billionaire by name, Barack Obama suggested on Tuesday that recent ugly scenes and xenophobic rhetoric on the campaign trail risked damaging “America’s brand”.Without mentioning the celebrity billionaire by name, Barack Obama suggested on Tuesday that recent ugly scenes and xenophobic rhetoric on the campaign trail risked damaging “America’s brand”.
Arguing that pluralism and tolerance were core American values during remarks on Capitol Hill, Obama warned: “Why would we want to tarnish that?”Arguing that pluralism and tolerance were core American values during remarks on Capitol Hill, Obama warned: “Why would we want to tarnish that?”
The biggest question in the Republican race now appears to be whether he can bag the 1,237 delegates needed to win the party’s nomination outright and avoid a potentially ugly contested convention in Cleveland in July. The biggest question in the Republican race now appears to be whether Trump can bag the 1,237 delegates needed to win the party’s nomination outright and avoid a potentially ugly contested convention in Cleveland in July.
Having secured all 99 delegates from Florida, Trump was set to be the night’s big winner, but he could yet fall short, raising the prospect of the party establishment attempting to snatch the contest from him. Having secured all 99 delegates from Florida, Trump was set to be the night’s big winner, but he could yet fall short, raising the prospect of the party establishment attempting to snatch the nomination from him.
Such a move would risk provoking an outpouring of anger from his supporters and would be particularly difficult if he is only 100 or so delegates short and clearly ahead of his rivals. Earlier on Tuesday, House speaker Paul Ryan said: “The Republican primary voters are going to make the decision. This is not our decision to make.”Such a move would risk provoking an outpouring of anger from his supporters and would be particularly difficult if he is only 100 or so delegates short and clearly ahead of his rivals. Earlier on Tuesday, House speaker Paul Ryan said: “The Republican primary voters are going to make the decision. This is not our decision to make.”
Before last night’s results, Trump had amassed 469 of the 1,064 delegates, or 44% of those pledged so far. Before last night’s results, Trump had amassed 469 delegates, or 44% of those pledged so far. Tuesday’s contests gave him at least 619.
Rubio’s exit from the race deprives establishment Republicans of the candidate they viewed as the palatable alternative to Trump. Whether they would be willing to rally around Ted Cruz, the disliked Texas senator, remained unclear. Rubio’s exit from the race deprives establishment Republicans of the candidate they viewed as the palatable alternative to Trump. Whether they would be willing to rally around Cruz, the disliked Texas senator, remained unclear.
Clinton’s campaign has emphasized its continued lead in delegate support and downplayed speculation about what it would mean if Sanders is successful in the midwest. Clinton’s campaign has emphasized its continued lead in delegate support and downplayed speculation about what it would mean if Sanders is successful in the midwest. As of Tuesday she has at least 1,021 delegates to Sanders’s 678, but with superdelegates – party luminaries who can vote how they want – included she has 1,488, over half way to the 2,383 delegates she needs.
“From the beginning, we have approached this nomination as a battle for delegates,” campaign manager Robby Mook said on a conference call with reporters the day after Clinton’s unexpected loss in Michigan. “Last night really showed why that approach made sense.” “From the beginning, we have approached this nomination as a battle for delegates,” campaign manager Robby Mook said on a conference call with reporters the day after Clinton’s unexpected loss in Michigan last week. “Last night really showed why that approach made sense.”
Aides say they expect mixed results in Tuesday’s contests, and are prepared for close a contest in Illinois, where some suggest a working class, predominately white electorate may be more favorable to Sanders despite polls that show Clinton with a strong lead there. While maintaining a competitive race with Sanders, Clinton has already begun to turn her attention to Trump.
Even if Sanders pulls off wins in the midwest or elsewhere, the delegate math will remain strongly tipped in Clinton’s favour. Clinton currently leads Sanders by more than 200 in the pledged delegate count. Big wins for Clinton would further narrow Sanders already razor-thin path to earning the 2,383 needed to clinch the nomination.
Clinton meanwhile has 768 of the 1,322 of the pledged Democrat delegates (58%) but she has a potentially huge advantage, since she has 95% of the 493 so-called “super delegates” – the senior party officials not bound by primary results.
While maintaining a competitive race with Sanders, Clinton has already begun to turn her attention to Donald Trump, who is looking to all but secure the Republican nomination on Tuesday.
“I think the numbers are adding up on in our favor, the number of delegates will continue to increase, so I am going to keep working as hard as I can,” Clinton told reporters outside a polling station in North Carolina on Tuesday. “But I think it is important that we really do focus on the very dangerous path that Donald Trump has laid out here, the kind of bluster and bigotry and bullying that he’s exemplifying on the campaign trail is disturbing to I think the majority of Americans.”“I think the numbers are adding up on in our favor, the number of delegates will continue to increase, so I am going to keep working as hard as I can,” Clinton told reporters outside a polling station in North Carolina on Tuesday. “But I think it is important that we really do focus on the very dangerous path that Donald Trump has laid out here, the kind of bluster and bigotry and bullying that he’s exemplifying on the campaign trail is disturbing to I think the majority of Americans.”