Sanders Wins Michigan, Pulls Political Upset Over Clinton, Rubio Fails to Win Any Delegates
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders appears to have stunned the political world on Tuesday night as his campaign won Michigan's presidential primary against Hillary Clinton. It was also a good night for Republican candidate Donald Trump.
Sanders' Upset in Michigan
Starting Wednesday, Americans may expect plenty political pundits discussing Sanders' performance in Michigan. Prior to Tuesday's Democratic Party primary, Clinton had led polling data by double digits. According to RealClearPolitics, averaging three surveys conducted between March 3 and March 7, Clinton received 58.7 percent to Sanders' 37.3 percent -- a margin of victory of 21.4 percent. But when the time came for Michigan voters to cast their actual vote, it was Sanders will won the state's primary.
With 97 percent of the precincts reporting, Sanders narrowly won Michigan with 49.9 percent, while Clinton received 48.2 percent. In specific votes, Sanders received 590,386 votes to Clinton's 570,949 votes, as of 5:40 a.m. EST. Sanders is expected to win 68 of Michigan's delegates, and Clinton will have 59 delegates.
"I am grateful to the people of Michigan for defying the pundits and pollsters and giving us their support," said Sanders in a statement. "This is a critically important night. We came from 30 points down in Michigan and we're seeing the same kind of come-from-behind momentum all across America."
"Not only is Michigan the gateway to the rest of the industrial Midwest, the results there show that we are a national campaign. We already have won in the Midwest, New England and the Great Plains and as more people get to know more about who we are and what our views are we're going to do very well," added Sanders.
Meanwhile in Mississippi, the only other state to host a Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, Clinton easily defeated Sanders with 82.6 percent to 16.5 percent. She will win 29 delegates, but Sanders won't leave empty handed as he will have four delegates.
Based on RealClearPolitics' projections, Clinton leads with the overall delegate count with 1,221 delegates to Sanders' 571 delegates. Clinton's delegate count, however, includes superdelegates and without them her count declines to 745 delegates. A Democratic presidential candidate requires 2,382 delegates to clinch the party's presidential nomination.
Trump Trumps & Rubio Crumbles in GOP Election
Trump, however, met expectations during the Republican presidential primaries and caucus.
In Michigan, Trump won Michigan with 36.5 percent, winning 25 of its 59 delegates. Ted Cruz and John Kasich battled for second place, but it was the Texas senator who secured more votes over the Ohio governor. Cruz received 24.9 percent and Kasich attracted 24.3 percent of the vote, however each still won 17 delegates, each. Marco Rubio did not win any delegates as he placed fourth with 9.3 percent.
"I'd like to congratulate the winner of tonight's primary, Donald Trump. The election today clearly showed the enthusiasm Michigan voters have for strong Republican leadership," Michigan Republican Party Chairman Ronna Romney McDaniel said in a statement, later adding, "Michigan voices and voters matter this election, and we'll continue to play an important part in deciding the next President. Whoever becomes our nominee, we'll do our part to support them against either Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders."
Trump scored another victory in Mississippi. With 95 percent of the precincts reporting, Trump won with 47.3 percent, winning 24 delegates. Cruz maintained second place, easily, with 36.3 percent, winning 13 delegates. Kasich and Rubio placed third and fourth, respectively, in single digits and won zero delegates.
In Idaho, Trump's winning streak ended as Cruz was named the winner with 45.4 percent, winning 20 of the available 32 delegates. With 96 percent of the precincts reporting, Trump placed second, winning the remaining 12 delegates, with 28.1 percent of the vote. Rubio placed third with 15.9 percent and Kasich garnered 7.4 percent of the vote, but both did not win delegates.
It was caucus night in Hawaii. Trump won the Hawaii caucus with 42.4 percent, securing 11 delegates. Cruz placed second, winning 7 delegates, with 32.7 percent. Rubio was third with 13.1 percent, Kasich followed with 10.6 percent, but neither won delegates.
A Republican presidential candidate requires 1,237 delegates to win the GOP's presidential nomination. Trump leads with 446 delegates, followed by 347 delegates for Cruz, 151 for Rubio and 54 for Kasich.
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