Hillary Clinton has emerged as the clear Democratic front-runner, sweeping Florida, Ohio, North Carolina and Illinois in Tuesday’s presidential primaries. A big Florida win for Donald Trump strengthened his grip on the Republican nomination and forced Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to end his bid after a devastating home-state loss.
Clinton and Trump weren’t the only winners last night as Ohio Gov. John Kasich pulled his home state to prevent Trump from all-out Super Tuesday Republican dominance.
“The campaign goes on,” Kasich declared at a victory rally, according to the Associated Press. Kasich added that he would “not take the low road to the highest office in the land,” an obvious shot at Trump, whose rallies have been the subject of several hate-filled incidents, including attacks by Trump supporters on protesters.
According to AP, Trump won North Carolina and Illinois and squeaked out a narrow win over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Missouri.
The billionaire businessman-turned-reality star-turned-politician told supporters at a victory rally, “This was an amazing night,” AP reports.
AP notes that Trump is the only Republican candidate with a realistic path to the 1,237 delegates needed to clinch the nomination before the July convention.
After his crushing Florida defeat, Rubio told those gathered, “Do not give in to the fear, do not give in to the frustration,” an implicit critique of Trump, before adding that he was dropping out of the race.
Clinton spent little time celebrating her primary victories, since she already has her sites set on November and a possible showdown with Trump. She told supporters during her victory rally that “our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country, not embarrass it,” AP reports.
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Read more at the Associated Press.