27 April 2016•Update: 28 April 2016
By Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have scored major victories in the latest big primaries, casting further doubts on their rivals’ viability in the race to win the Democratic and Republic presidential nominations.
Trump is projected to win primaries in all five states – Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania – sweeping 99 of 118 delegates at stake, dealing major blows to Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich, amid debate over their alliance against the real estate mogul.
Trump said he sees his projected victory on Tuesday night as being about more than just the five states that voted.
"I consider myself the presumptive nominee," Trump told his victory press conference. "This is a far bigger win than we expected."
"This one's a diverse victory.... Every one of them is conclusive, and every state is so different," he added.
He widened his delegate lead to 950 against his closest rival Cruz’s 560 delegates. Cruz got one delegate from Rhode Island.
Kasich, on the other hand, could get 5 delegates from Rhode Island, bringing his delegate numbers to 153.
Republican candidates need 1,237 delegates to clinch the nomination.
On the democratic side, Clinton is projected to win four states – Connecticut Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Delaware – while Sanders is projected to win Rhode Island.
“With your help, we are going to come back to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention, with the most votes and the most pledged delegates,” she told supporters in Philadelphia.
Battling for 384 delegates at stake, Clinton got 194, pushing her delegate total to 2,141 – with 519 super-delegates who are free to side with whichever candidate they want.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, got 129 delegates, bringing his total to 1,321 with 39 super delegates.
A total of 2,384 delegates are needed to secure the Democratic Party nomination.
