Joe Biden landed victories in Florida, Illinois, and Arizona on Tuesday, increasingly pulling away with a Democratic presidential primary upended by the coronavirus and building pressure on Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign.
What We Know:
- Democrats voted in 3 U.S. states despite the demand to stay at home during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Mr. Biden had 62 percent of the vote in Florida, with Sanders falling behind at 23 percent. In Illinois, Biden led with 60 percent with Sanders having only 36 percent. The Associated Press projected Mr. Biden would also win Arizona, on a 13-point lead over Mr. Sanders’ 30 percent of the vote, with 41 percent of precincts reporting.
- On the other hand, President Donald Trump secured enough delegates to seal the Republican nomination.
- Biden’s strong performance will bolster calls from Democrats for Sanders to concede.
- “Senator Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision,” Biden said.
- “Let me say especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Senator Sanders: I hear you,” Biden said. “I know what’s at stake, I know what we have to do. Our goal as a campaign and my goal as a candidate for president is to unify the party and then unify this nation.”
Primaries that are due to be held in Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, and Louisiana in March and April have been postponed.
