Trump triumphs at Super Tuesday
Reality TV star, Donald Trump has edged even closer to the presidential nomination securing seven states in Super Tuesday.
The billionaire clutched victory in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia.
He failed in his bid to beat Ted Cruz in his home state of Texas, who also managed to take a surprise victory in Oklahoma and edged ahead in Alaska.
Marco Rubio won in Minnesota pushing the front runner into third place.
Eleven US states held their Republican caucuses and primaries on Tuesday, with Trump expected to win in eight of them.
With most precincts having now reported their results, Trump’s total number of delegates has risen to 285, leaving him 952 people short of winning the nomination.
In his victory speech, Trump congratulated Cruz on holding his home state and attacked Rubio.
He said: “I know it was a very tough night for Marco Rubio. He had a tough night.”
“He is a lightweight as I’ve said many times before.”
In a meeting later he said it would be hard for senior officials in the party to challenge his role as presumptive nominee.
Victory for Cruz in Texas, Alaska and Oklahoma showed that Trump has not won over everyone in the GOP.
Having trailed Trump by almost 12 points just a week ago, taking Oklahoma has left many saying he is the only serious challenger left against the Apprentice star.
“Tonight was another decision point and the voters have spoken”, he said in a speech.
“Donald Trump’s path to the nomination remains more likely and that would be a disaster for Republicans, for conservatives and for the nation.”
Taking his first victory of the race, Rubio said that Minnosota was the start and that he wouldn’t be dropping out.
“Tonight was supposed to be Ted Cruz’s big night, not a night where he won two states, he was supposed to have that Southern firewall and it didn’t happen,’ Rubio said in an interview with CNN.
The Florida Senator will be hoping to do well in his home state on March 15, where the state operates a winner takes all approach.
Ohio Governor John Kasich and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson failed to take any states and many are predicting Super Tuesday could be an end to their campaigns.
In the Democratic race, Hillary Clinton also took seven states against Vermont Senator, Bernie Sanders.
