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HILLARY CLINTON TOOK a monumental step toward clinching the Democratic party’s White House nomination Tuesday, while Donald Trump’s seemingly unstoppable rush to victory hit a bump in Ohio.
Trump won key Republican primaries in Illinois, North Carolina and Florida — where he thumped home state Senator Marco Rubio, who immediately announced he was suspending his presidential campaign.
“This was an amazing evening,” a buoyant Trump told supporters.
We’re going to win, win, win and we’re not stopping.
Rubio’s loss was a major setback for Republicans trying to stop the businessman, whose populist anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim stance they fear will split the party.
The 69-year-old Trump was clinging to a narrow lead in Missouri with nearly all of the votes counted, but was denied a clean sweep by Ohio Governor John Kasich, who carried his home state, a key general election battleground.
Trump may now struggle to reach the 1,237 delegates necessary to avoid a challenge at the party’s nominating convention in July in Cleveland.
“The bottom line after tonight: it looks like Trump will not have a majority of delegates in July,” said Paul Beck, a professor of political science at Ohio State University.
Big night for Clinton
There were fewer problems for Clinton, who defeated her rival Bernie Sanders in Florida, North Carolina, Ohio and Illinois. She also had a slight edge in Missouri, according to vote tallies.
Sanders now faces an almost impossible task to catch up with Clinton’s formidable delegate advantage.
“We are moving closer to securing the Democratic party nomination and winning this election in November,” said Clinton, casting one eye on the general election – and at Trump.
When we hear a candidate for president call for rounding up 12 million immigrants, banning all Muslims from entering the United States – when he embraces torture, that doesn’t make him strong. It makes him wrong.
Republicans will now have to decide whether to rally behind one candidate or siphon votes away from Trump as a team.
The scope of Trump’s victory against Rubio in Florida will shock the Republican establishment as much as it will raise hopes the party can challenge in the one-time swing state come 8 November.
President Barack Obama carried the state in both the 2008 and 2012 elections.
Rubio bowed out, saying:
While it is not God’s plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I’ve even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is.
Kasich meanwhile openly called for a contested convention and vowed to campaign on.
“I want to remind you, again tonight, that I will not take the low road to the highest office in the land,” he said.
Ted Cruz, an ultra-conservative senator from Texas, also remains in the Republican race.
Projections by US media showed him just behind Trump in Missouri, and in second place in Illinois and North Carolina.
Cruz made a call for Republicans to unify against Trump behind him.
“Donald may be the one person on the face of the earth that Hillary Clinton can beat in the general election,” he said, telling Republicans they now face “a clear choice”.
‘Vulgar and divisive’
Trump’s incendiary attacks on immigrants, threats of mass deportations and a proposal for a wall on the border with Mexico have ignited the campaign trail and drawn condemnation in some quarters – the latest being from President Barack Obama.
Without pointing the finger directly at Trump, Obama professed to being “dismayed” at some of the comments during campaigning.
“We have heard vulgar and divisive rhetoric aimed at women and minorities – at Americans who don’t look like ‘us,’ or pray like ‘us,’ or vote like we do,” said the president, who along with his wife Michelle cast absentee ballots in their home state of Illinois.
But Trump’s populist message has resonated – even with some Democrats like 69-year-old Katharine Berry.
“We don’t need all these illegals,” she told AFP outside a polling station at the Zion Lutheran Church in Canton.
“They’re taking our jobs, they’ve got all these rights, Americans don’t have rights.
I voted Democrat today. But if Trump wins, then I’m going to vote for him in the general election.
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Am I missing something? Is there more to Trump than the nutcase stuff that is reported here? Or are Americans really that stupid?
No, just the nutcase stuff
@Dan. It seems they are. Have a ‘registered Republican’ cousin in the U.S. who thinks Trump is amazing, especially his rhetoric on banning immigrants. She ‘hates’ these immigrants taking ‘American jobs. Funny really. Her father was born and bred in Cork. I pointed that out but was told by her friend: ya but he was legal…wtf? Common sense is seriously lacking in that country
Plenty it would seem, the media just filters it down to tripe. For one he’s against the secretive free trade deals which has affected so many middle and lower class Americans, not a trump fan by any means but he’s hit a nerve with a lot of people not just on his immigration policies.
Dan, I think you answered your own question in the second part of your comment
I think we (in the US) are sliding toward fascism and/or increasing civil strife. Trump is a man with no plan. No program. Nothing but bluster and anger and bullshit. And he’s selling it by the wagon load.
You thought Enda and Brian were bad. Hah.
I do miss Ireland’s West coast. Sadly, I’m too old to get a mortgage and too poor to pay cash for a home. So here I must remain, content to visit in summer.
He’s a nutcase here. But in America there is mass illegal immigration , it’s also fuelling the cartels in Mexico
With Muslims, America is frightened of another major terror attack
Building a wall on the border and stoping Muslims entering the country may be ultra extreme But… The yanks think , it may stop it.
I’m not saying its the correct thing to do. But rather my theory why he’s getting votes
Dan they are that stupid.
Barry the fence is for the Mexican border. There aren’t many Mexican Muslims.
Irish people calling the American voters ‘stupid’ !
Look at who we have voted in over the last 40 years before speaking ….
And common sense is prevalent here in Ireland Aine??
There are more people returning to Mexico than coming in. http://www.wsj.com/articles/mexican-immigration-to-u-s-reverses-1447954334
@Seamus – Are you an ILLEGAL immigrant?
Aine
Common sense is lacking because you can’t understand the difference between an illegal immigrant and a legal one? Trump isn’t against immigration, just illegal immigration, which sounds about right to me because it’s illegal
But if they remove all the illegal workers from the US their economy will collapse.
jynx, unless you are a Muslim.
@Charles – Rubbish!
Collapse is a stretch but possible huge damage yes.
“You know, it really doesn’t matter what the media write as long as you’ve got a young and beautiful piece of a*s.”
Trump.
Hard to argue with that.
I’d take Trump over Cruz each and every time. People give Clinton far too many passes too.
Its bad to say most people would rather bring bush back than have trump as president!
Unfortunately he was talking about Ivanka.
Honest, hard working, puts his money where his mouth is.
That’s why Americans love Donald Trump.
With Trump you get something unusual in political life:
The Truth.
With Hilary all you’re going to get is a pack of lies, financial corruption and endless war.
Hilary Clinton is a greater threat to global democracy than Isis.
Yes but his truth is scary, no politician said they didn’t want a big wall and then built one.
He is not what an open democratic society should look for in a leader.
ISIS – Israeli Special Intelligence Service.
Honest and hard working? His companies have been bankrupt four times – he uses bankruptcy laws as a business model. The man is a shyster
Sam is right.
The truth may be scary, but I’m sure a lot of ppl in American just said would somebody just building a giant wall going into Mexico
One reason people are voting for him is , he will probable do the shît he’s talking about.
The democrats may promise the world , but they will give you nothing
“Sam”
With your post on this subject,you have only gone and proved,that you are a troll..
What site did you copy and paste it from ? Was it Breitbart or Geller ?
How will he build this “wall” ?
@Dave Harris – disingenuous comment. Trump has owned many more businesses than those four – most of which have been highly successful.
How do you build any wall Francis? You just get it built. Well said Sam, Trump is for real and clearly the establishment can’t stand him. Too many falling for the daily propaganda against him. If only Hillary was hit like Trump has been.
Have you ever been to Israel,have you been there when on a sunny Morning the daily routine was broken by rockets from Gaza and watched the school kids lined up by their teachers to go to the shelters and adults head for cover.There was no panic because it is part of life there.Was there Israeli attacks on Gaza no it was Hamas having rocket practice.Did Israel strike back?yes but what do you expect thank you cards.Am I a Jew ?no, am I Israeli no I’m Irish.I was there doing work for my company which was nothing to do with Arms or killing exactly the opposite.
“Sam”
‘With your post on this subject,you have only gone and proved,that you are a troll..
What site did you copy and paste it from ? Was it Breitbart or Geller ?’
A liberal I take it.
I’m going to build a wall around my wee property,Jinx ,but I have one yuge problem with it …it is all in my head ..
Sam, I understand the appeal of Trump, but he doesn’t exactly give the truth. He’s very fond of telling porkies. He may not be as bad as Hillary in that department (who is?) but trusting what Trump says without rigid fact checking isn’t advised.
Can’t wait til we discover his Irish roots
He bought them in Doonbeg
Seamie and Paudie O’Trompaigh are probably stringing the bunting across Ballydonald Main Street as we speak and etching their surname onto a blank gravestone in the local graveyard.
So liar to Barack Obama plaza, a planning application has been submitted in Tipperary for a multi storey residential building dubbed Tipp Trump Tower
Father changed name from Drumpf. Drumpf is from the Norman name D’Rumpf – of the ass – Donkey.
The Drumpf name change happened long before his father was born. It’s not clear exactly when it was changed but it may have been as early as the 1600s.
Not even the Americans are immune to populist bullshiit!
The bellicose businessman is a demagogue who appeals to the worst and most ungenerous instincts of disenchanted Americans.
It is sad to see how Trump has manipulated the rage and anger of U.S. Citizens into a movement of anger and hate.
And that’s why we have SF and AAA over here!
Although I support neither SF or AAA, they have worked out coherent policies, have addressed the particular social ills afflicting Irish society, have identified the areas of abuse of power in Ireland and give a voice to the disadvantaged in Irish society, which is a necessary part of a healthy and functioning democratic society.
There is actually no analogy between the phenomenon of Trump in the US and the increasing appeal of SF and AAA in Ireland. As FG, supported enthusiastically by Labour, moved more and more to the right, favouring the interests of the privileged and the powerful, it was inevitable that parties representing the ordinary citizen would develop more and more support from aware voters.
Trump is part of the American establishment, a brash and fulminating billionaire, who uses emotional manipulation techniques to induce ordinary Americans into believing that he has their best interests at heart when, in fact, they are merely there for exploitation.
to be fair, trump had put forward a strategy for dealing with social ills (unemployment, racial tension), abuse of power (by wall Street/bankers) and the disadvantaged (legal working class Americans). It is just that he is addressing only them at the expense of everyone else who falls outside of that area, including a lot of people that their constitution is supposed to protect.
That damned democracy – it can be frustrating for liberals how it can get in the way of the the utopian dream.
@Alien8……And he won’t be letting Americans die on the sidewalks for lack of medicare.He’ll push that one through where others failed miserably.
Don’t think political life is that simple SF and AAA good FF and FG evil We all wish if was
@Fiona – So Trump is a “demagogue” now is he Fiona? Fiona, you leftist agitators are really clutching at straws at this stage.
Trump wont get a wall built and he wont change health care. If he’s elected you will see a majority senate and there will be worse gridlock than there is right now.
Trump is:
-against mass immigration
-in favour of making American companies bring their manufacturing back to the US
-against free trade deals that will lead to more outsourcing
-against the war in Iraq and interventions in the Middle East
-in favour of sitting down and negotiating with the Palestinians
-in favour of repealing and replacing the vastly unpopular Obamacare
-reducing middle class taxes and simplifying the Byzantine US tax code
No wonder he’s got so much support.
And whether you agree with him or not, he’s a phenomenal debater. Whether he’s talking sense or not, he always gives the impression of being in control. He has dominated Bush, Cruz and Rubio with his force of character.
Trust me, Donald Trump will destroy Hillary Clinton in the election.
James
He also questions the official story of 9/11. He talked about the Bush family flying the Bin Ladens out of the country and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in knocking down the towers. As someone who has been called a conspiracy theorist for years over this subject, it was music to my ears to hear him say this
“phenomenal debater” Don’t think so James,
this pretentious pompous man’s method is to ridicule his opponent
with cheap shots to get a few laughs rather than debate the issues,
Can you imagine him as leader of the free world ???
On the vs Hillary question, democrats always lose disenfranchised whites nationally. They win on not-so-minority minority tun out. Trump will make those turn out in droves against him.
I don’t see where people are saying he’ll destroy anyone. He has one very strong base, uneducated white men. ie ones who vote in republican primaries loads. He needs a much broader support to win a real election.
He’s a man with very popular policies running againt the least trusted individual in America. She doesn’t have a chance.
Wtf is wrong with the American people…
It is called democracy
Wtf is wrong with the Irish people?
If Chicago didn’t stop Trump nothing will.. Trump!Trump!Trump! Get outa the way Hillary! Men-Real Men needed in the White House. Trump!Trump!Trump!
There should be a ‘Pad blocker plus’ on this site ..
Oompa loompa doompety doo
I’ve got a perfect puzzle for you
Oompa loompa doompety dee
If you will listen you will go far
What do you get when you pick Donald Trump?
Violence, hysteria and a big wall
What are you at when you say “I’ll vote him”?
Clinton taking the 3am call.
I don’t like the look of him
She will clean up in the fall.
Oompa loompa doompety dee.
Now children, back to the chocolate factory.
Wow, I’m embarrassed for you IMF, that was truly cringeworthy.
Here, we have the AAA who’s only plan in the dail is to wear trackies and vote against every tax and get rid of existing ones.
The yanks probable think were nuts for voting them In
Trump only has about 20% of national vote . A lot but not crazy .
It’s when it comes down to 2 nationally, then it gets real
I like Trump. He recognised the west needs to prevent Islamic terrorists getting in. He recognizes uses that unfair trade destroys jobs. Especially appealing to me is his neutral foreign policy on Israel-Palestine
his “neutral” foreign policy on Israel-Palestine
The key word here is “neutral”
ie not supporting or helping either side in a conflict,
Think we have enough of those around the world as it is
over the last 50 years.
I was going to say ‘Bejaysus it’s a pity but in
one way America deserves this rich money grabbing idiot
but the rest of the world does not.
You’re right. The rest of the world should be allowed to elect America’s president for them.
America is a brainwashed nation. Just wave a flag in their faces and shout Liberty freedom and patriotism. Then of course like any great panto you need a villain that’s where Islam comes in. Trump is using the same rhetoric as Adolf Hitler. History repeating itself but his team knows that’s how you get people to back you!
Its going to be hard stopping the hot blimp now……
have your say