Washington: Republican front-runner Donald Trump won presidential primaries in five US states that voted on Tuesday, while Hillary Clinton triumphed in four, media reports said on Wednesday.
Trump’s political strength was on display with a clean sweep of races in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Clinton crushed her opponents in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Connecticut, CNN reported.
Clinton’s main rival, Vermont Bernie Sanders picked up his sole victory in Rhode Island.
Trump picked up at least 99 delegates on Tuesday, bringing him to 945 compared to Cruz at 563 and Kasich at 152.
Clinton won at least 72 delegates, boosting her total to 2,026, which includes pledged and superdelegates. Sanders holds 1,291, including pledged and superdelegates.
According to sources, wins for Trump — following a massive victory in the New York on April 19 — move him significantly closer to the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination outright and avoid a contested Republican convention.
This historic prospect is now the only way rivals Texas Senator Ted Cruz and Ohio Governor John Kasich could stop Trump from becoming the Republican Party nominee.
“This to me was our biggest night,” Trump said in his victory speech. “I consider myself the presumptive nominee.”
Meanwhile, Clinton climbed on stage to cheers in her election night headquarters in Philadelphia, the city that will host the Democratic National Convention later in July.
“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,” Clinton said.
“We will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together, an America where we lift each other up instead of tearing each other down,” she added.