Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton on Tuesday clinched major victories in northeastern primaries of the U.S. presidential election, marching closer to claiming the nominations for the Republican and Democratic parties respectively.
Trump, a real estate mogul, crushed his rivals in all five states -- Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island -- and is poised to take a strong majority of the 118 delegates at stake. Tuesday's wins for Trump, who received 55 percent to 60 percent of the votes in some states, decreased the odds for a contested convention this summer in Cleveland, a scenario his rivals had banked on to stop him from securing the Republican nomination.
"This to me was our biggest night," Trump said in his victory speech. "I consider myself the presumptive nominee." Shortly before he was projected to sweep Tuesday's contests, Trump called on his opponents Senator Ted Cruz and Governor John Kasich to drop out of the presidential race. "They should drop out, because, frankly, they have no path to victory," Trump said, adding that he has mounted a "tremendously successful campaign" that has beaten "governors, senators, people of great talent and great intellect."
On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Clinton won four of the five states, while Senator Bernie Sanders picked up his sole victory in Rhode Island.
Addressing her supporters in Philadelphia, Clinton vowed to unify the Democratic Party, saying she would bring liberals of all stripes together in the fight against Republicans. "The other day, Mr. Trump accused me of playing the, quote, woman card," she said. "Well, if fighting for women's health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in."
"She is pragmatic. She is tough. And she is a compromiser. She will make compromises that are needed to get through the next four years," Pat Reber said of Clinton to Xinhua after voting for her in Montgomery County of Maryland.
Democratic voter Larry Barnett said he is very undecided, but did vote for Clinton as well. "I think she is extremely qualified and she has excellent experience," he told Xinhua. "She is a little bit more mainstream than he (Sanders) is and she is electable."
Tuesday's results will probably be a disappointment for 18-year-old Sophia Martinez, who is a first-time voter and a big supporter of Sanders. "I really like his opinions about climate change, education, and how the middle class should be getting better," Martinez said, adding that "Hillary is also a great candidate."
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