Super Tuesday No. 4 came to a close after Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Delaware and Rhode Island voted on presidential nominees. As the results came rolling in from the East Coast, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump just kept on winning. If you missed the action, excitement, and Trump’s super sexist victory speech, here’s the recap of Super Tuesday:
Donald Trump is Closer than Ever to Victory
Donald rolled through Super Tuesday, sweeping all five of the states’ primaries. This put Trump at 953 delegates—which means he needs fewer than 300 more to reach the necessary 1,237 delegates and clinch the Republican nomination before the convention this summer.
“When the boxer knocks out the other boxer, you don’t have to wait around for a decision,” Trump said to supporters in Trump Tower, according to The New York Times. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s over.”
After claiming he pretty much already beat everyone, Trump set his sights on Clinton and the national election. Trump, in his victory, branded Clinton as an easy opponent, or at least easier than past ones like Jeb Bush. According to CNN, Trump said, “Frankly, if Hillary Clinton was a man, she’d only get 5 percent of the vote…The only thing she’s go going for her is the woman’s card, and frankly, women don’t like her.” Even Mary Pat Christie, the wife of Chris Christie and a pledged supporter of Trump, rolled her eyes at him.
“The only thing she’s got going is the woman’s card…” (plus Mary Pat Christie reaction via @NYTnickc) https://t.co/5RXjFJhINx
— Michael Del Moro (@MikeDelMoro) April 27, 2016
Hillary Sweeps 4 of the 5 States
Winning all but Rhode Island, Hillary moved her delegate count up to 1,666 (not including super delegates). With her 502 superdelegates (who may change their support at any time), Clinton is nearly 200 delegates from clinching the nomination.
“I applaud Senator Sanders and his millions of supporters for challenging us to get accountable money out of politics and putting greater emphasis to closing the gap of inequality,” Clinton said, according to CNN. “And I know together we will get that done.” This could be a possible call to Sanders to unite if he does not get the nomination, in order to fix splits in the party and beat Trump.
“Whether you support Senator Sanders or you support me, there’s much more that unites us than divides us.” —Hillary
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) April 27, 2016
Clinton is looking ahead to the fall and the national election, assured that she will arrive to the Democratic convention this summer “with the most votes and the most pledged delegates.”
Only Rhode Island Felt “The Bern”
Although Sanders only trails Clinton 1,359 to 1,666 pledged delegates, he only has 42 superdelegates. This could be the main difference keeping Bernie from being the Democratic nominee. After losing four of the five states that voted Tuesday night, he turned his attention on the superdelegates.
“What we are seeing are national polls which have us 15 or 20 points ahead of Donald Trump—far more than Secretary Clinton,” Sanders said, according to CNN. He is trying to change the support of the superdelegates, pitching himself as the best candidate to beat out Trump come November.
Pennsylvania – go forward and tell the world you are going to lead this country into a political revolution. pic.twitter.com/COU1oBxsBj
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) April 26, 2016
CNN also reported that six in 10 Democratic voters in Maryland and Connecticut see Sanders campaign as energizing, rather than dividing, to the Democratic party. This may help Sanders “fight for a progressive party platform” in the convention in the summer, even if he can’t clinch the nomination.
Ted Cruz and John Kasich Team Up
Put together, Kasich and Cruz only won 6 assigned delegates on Tuesday night out of 118 up for grabs. The two have declared that they will team up to keep as many future contests away from the Donald as possible. According to the Los Angeles Times, this means that Cruz will back out of Oregon and New Mexico to give Kasich a better chance of winning, while Kasich will do the same for Cruz in Indiana.
“Tonight this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain,” said Cruz in Indiana, where the next major primaries will be held. This move shows how, even with split ideas on the issues, much of the Republican party is willing to do anything to keep Trump from getting the nomination before the GOP convention.
According to CNBC, Ted Cruz also plans on making a “major announcement” at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Many believe that he could be naming a vice presidential running mate (perhaps Carly Fiorina?), in order to broaden his campaign and pick up more supporters.
Indiana’s primary, which will happen next Tuesday (yay for political Tuesdays!), is the next voting. If Trump wins, his nomination will become even more likely. Stay tuned to see if the Kasich and Cruz teamwork pays off and if Sanders can fare any better outside of the East Coast.