Big win for Biden in three state primaries

Washington, March 18

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Former Vice President Joe Biden has claimed victory over rival Bernie Sanders by sweeping three key primaries in Florida, Illinois and Arizona, inching closer in the race to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to face US President Donald Trump in November’s election.

Biden, 77, won the three primaries with an impressive margin, trouncing Vermont Senator Sanders, 78, to become the Democratic party’s presidential nominee.

Given Biden’s solid lead in national opinion polls among Democrats and in many of the states yet to hold primaries, Sanders faces a very steep battle to overtake his rival.

“Our campaign has had a very good night,” Biden said in televised remarks from his home in Delaware.

Pressure grows on Sanders

Bernie Sanders plans to “assess his campaign” for the Democratic Party’s US presidential nomination after bruising losses to Joe Biden in the most recent round of primary elections, a senior adviser said on Wednesday.

“The next primary contest is at least three weeks away. Sanders is going to be having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign,” his campaign manager, Faiz Shakir, said in a statement. “In the immediate term, however, he is focused on the government response to the coronavirus outbreak and ensuring that we take care of working people and the most vulnerable,” Shakir said.

Biden’s latest wins have given him a nearly insurmountable lead over Sanders of 971 to 737 delegates, according to Edison Research. A candidate needs 1,991 delegates to clinch the nomination at July’s Democratic National Convention. PTI