Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton won seven states each of the 11 states that voted on Tuesday, and placed themselves far ahead of their rivals in the race for Republican and Democratic presidential nominations, respectively.
Mr. Trump, whose highly controversial and confrontational campaign has deeply divided the Republican base and its leadership, sought to bridge that gap by declaring himself as the “unifier and the most inclusive candidate in the field,” after the victories.
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“I think we’re going to be more inclusive...more unified, and I think we’re going to be a much bigger party. The party has become more dynamic. It has become more diverse,” he said. “I am a unifier. I know people will find this hard to believe,” he said adding that he would be the only candidate who could beat Ms. Clinton. Mr. Trump, who took questions from the media after his victory speech, also held out an olive branch to Republican Congressional leaders, who are resisting his rise.
“African-Americans, Hispanics back me”
“I will get along with them all…,” he said to repeated questions about hostile comments from them. He wondered, after all these victories how could the Republican Party think that he was not the right candidate. “Is that democracy?” he asked and claimed that he was getting the maximum support from African Americans and Hispanics.
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Mr. Trump lost four states – three to Texas Senator Ted Cruz and one to Florida Senator Marco Rubio – but these losses only take him closer to the nomination. Neither Mr. Cruz nor Mr. Rubio will quit the race, and is certain to go for each other’s throat, after a week of coordinated attacks against Mr. Trump.
Disappointing show but Rubio hopeful
Mr. Rubio, who the Republican establishment hoped would be the credible challenger to Mr. Trump, showed a disappointing performance, winning one and finishing second only in two, of the 11 states. “I will go all the way, to all 50 states, to ensure that I am the next President of the United States,” said Mr Rubio.
Mr. Cruz, whose performance turned out to be far better than expected, won three states on Super Tuesday. Choosing between Mr. Trump and Mr. Cruz, for the Republican establishment, is akin to choosing between “getting shot and taking poison,” as a TV commentator put it.
Cruz has a dig at Trump
Mr. Cruz, who has a wide range of controversial pastors endorsing him, attacked Mr. Trump for being a liberal, after the results. “He says he will be neutral in the Israel-Palestine conflict. I will unapologetically stand with the nation of Israel,” Mr. Cruz said, drawing a series of comparisons between him and Mr. Trump on issues such as abortion rights, immigration etc. Mr. Cruz did not confront Mr. Trump’s views on Muslims.
Mr. Trump hopes to benefit from the wedge between the senators and repeatedly pointed to the fact that only Mr. Cruz has ever beaten in him any state.
“Where is little Marco?” he asked, and commended Mr. Cruz’s performance – in an apparent message to the Republican establishment that their options were limited.
Hillary does the Sanders speech
Ms. Clinton, now confident that she is closer to the nomination than ever before, made a victory speech that for most part sounded like Bernie Sanders. She touched upon corporate greed, wage decline, inequality, college education and its affordability, trade deals and added her own signature issues to it -- race and gender relations. Mr. Trump said her speech lifted his campaign points on wages, trade and unemployment.
Ms. Clinton also targeted Mr. Trump, drawing the battle line for the November general election. “We know we’ve got work to do. But that work is not to make America great again…America never stopped being great. We need to make America whole again,” she said, taking a dig at Mr. Trump’s campaign slogan.
Sanders being more inclusive
Mr. Sanders, who won four states, said his campaign would continue. “Our campaign is about bringing our people together: Black and white, Latino, Asian-American, gay and straight, born in this country, and people who have immigrated to America,” he said.
Republican Delegates | Donald Trump | Ted Cruz | Marco Rubio | Democratic Delegates | Hillary Clinton | Bernie Sanders |
Alabama | 36 | 13 | 1 | Alabama | 44 | 9 |
Alaska | 11 | 12 | 5 | Alaska | 19 | 9 |
Arkansas | 16 | 4 | 9 | Arkansas | 24 | 35 |
Georgia | 40 | 18 | 14 | Georgia | 70 | 28 |
Massachusetts | 22 | 4 | 8 | Massachusetts | 45 | 43 |
Minnesota | 10 | 13 | 14 | Minnesota | 28 | 46 |
Oklahoma | 12 | 14 | 11 | Oklahoma | 16 | 20 |
Tennessee | 31 | 14 | 9 | Tennessee | 41 | 22 |
Texas | 33 | 99 | 3 | Texas | 138 | 61 |
Vermont | 6 | Vermont | 16 | |||
Virginia | 17 | 8 | 16 | Virginia | 61 | 32 |
(Results incomplete; Source: realclearpolitics.com, politico.com)