Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks at a campaign rally in Blackwood, New Jersey, U.S., May 11, 2016. (Photo: Reuters)
Hillary Clinton has won the California Democratic primary and could win enough pledged, bound delegates to clinch the nomination. It marks the first time in U.S. history a woman has won a major party nomination for president, though Sen. Bernie Sanders refused to concede Tuesday night.
On Monday, the night before the pivotal states–California, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota–the Associated Press “reported” that Mrs. Clinton wrapped up the nomination. However, that was only true with superdelegates, who don’t officially pledge their support until the nomination. With the Golden State in her column, it is now possible that she could reach the number of pledged delegates needed.
The report, which no doubt depressed turnout for the challenger, puts in question the journalistic ethics at the AP and Sen. Sanders was furious.
On the Republican side, presumptive nominee Donald Trump easily swept the remaining states where he ran essentially unopposed after defeating a deep, large 17-strong bench during the primary season. Mr. Trump now has easily surpassed the number of pledged bound delegates to clinch the nomination.
Meanwhile, the two candidates bludgeoned each other in their speeches, offering a preview of the general election. Mrs. Clinton said her opponent was “temperamentally unfit to be president” and accused him of racism, misogyny and the like. In his “America First” victory speech at Briarcliff Manor in New York, Mr. Trump vowed that he was “going to be America’s champion.”
“I beat a rigged system with overwhelming support, the only way you can do it,” Mr. Trump said. “We can’t beat a rigged system by relying on the very same people who rigged it. We can’t rely on the politicians who created our problems to fix them.”
Mr. Trump went on to clobber the Clintons for making millions during and as a result of their careers in public service. He announced he will give a major speech next week highlighting her record of public corruption.
“Hillary Clinton turned the State Department into her private hedge fund,” he added. “We’re going to turn this all around and we’re going to do it by putting America first.”
Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton are essentially tied on the PPD average of polls.
