TRUMP TAKES FLORIDA & ILLINOIS, TRUMP IS IT (DELEGATE COUNTDOWN)

TRUMP TAKES FLORIDA & ILLINOIS, TRUMP IS IT:

KASICH WINS OHIO.

TRUMP WILL BE THE GOP NOMINEE NOT KASICH.

Sources: Chicago Tribune, Fox News, Youtube

***** Trump wins Florida, Illinois, North Carolina; Kasich takes Ohio

Donald Trump won a decisive victory in Florida's primary Tuesday night, forcing home-state Sen. Marco Rubio to abandon the race for the Republican presidential nomination. But another big prize — Ohio — went to its governor, John Kasich.

Florida's outcome strengthened Trump's chances to secure the Republican presidential nomination. The third contender, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, is hoping to pick up enough delegates to force a contested national GOP convention in July.

"Do not give in to the fear," Rubio said in a not-so-subtle reference to Trump. "Do not give in to the frustration."

Florida and Ohio award the most delegates in voting Tuesday; Missouri, Illinois and North Carolina also weigh in.

Kasich had to win Ohio to keep his struggling campaign alive, but even so, he has virtually no path to the nomination.

"I want you to know the campaign goes on," Kasich said at his victory rally. He sought to maintain his positive persona. "I will not take the low road to the highest office of the land."

Trump's plainspoken — while controversial — appeals have resonated across the country, leaving other candidates reeling for a strategy to topple the unconventional front-runner.

"He will fix everything that is wrong with the economy and immigration," said Alex Perri, a 59-year-old retired firefighter from Margate, Florida, who was campaigning for Trump in the parking lot of an Oakland Park voting place.

Trump's promise to impose tariffs on goods from countries that don't "play fair" has been particularly resonant with voters across the industrial Midwest.

Even as Trump racks up more wins, questions have intensified about whether he is doing enough to stem violence at his raucous rallies.

Trump said Tuesday on ABC's "Good Morning America" that his record-setting crowds have had "very, very little difficultly."

The New York real estate mogul backed away from a suggestion that he might cover legal costs for a supporter who punched a protester in the face during a rally last week in North Carolina. He has blamed a larger recent clash in Chicago on Democratic protesters.

His Republican rivals and other GOP leaders insist Trump deserves some responsibility, while both Rubio and Kasich in recent days have refused to say whether they would support a Trump nomination.

In a clear reference to Trump, House Speaker Paul Ryan, the GOP's top elected leader, declared that all candidates have an obligation to do what they can to provide an atmosphere of harmony at campaign events and not incite violence.

For some voters, Trump's tone has been a turn-off.

Tom and Cathy Lewis cast their votes Tuesday for Kasich, who lives in their hometown of Westerville, Ohio. Beyond feeling a hometown connection to the Ohio governor, the couple said they were looking for a candidate with integrity and someone they can trust.

"We need to have a man who will speak against things that are wrong," Cathy Lewis said.

In recent weeks, Republicans who dislike Trump have banded to wage multimillion-dollar advertising campaigns against him. One political ad highlights Trump'sstatements that appear to encourage violence.

Trump still leads the race for delegates, with 568. Ted Cruz has 370 delegates, Kasich has 129 and Rubio left the race with 163.

A tally by The Associated Press shows Kasich would have to win 91 percent of the remaining delegates to clinch the nomination before the summer convention

It takes 1,237 delegates to win the Republican nomination for president.

HILLARY WINS FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, & OHIO (HER CORONATION)

HILLARY WINS FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, & OHIO:

I'M NOT SURPRISED.

SANDERS IS HELPING HILLARY. HE'S ACTUALLY HER DEBATE COACH.

Sources: Wall Street Journal, PBS, Youtube

**** Hillary Clinton Easily Wins in Ohio, Florida and North Carolina

Bernie Sanders looks for victories in the remaining states, Illinois and Missouri.

Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton won a critical victory in Ohio’s presidential primary on Tuesday—and completed her sweep of the South with victories in Florida and North Carolina—as she took full command of a contest that has been far closer than expected at the start.

Rival Bernie Sanders was still hoping for wins in Illinois and Missouri on Tuesday. But the former secretary of state and New York senator was certain to widen her delegate lead.

“We are moving close to securing the Democratic Party nomination and winning this election in November,” Mrs. Clinton told cheering supporters in Florida. She boasted that she has won more votes that any candidate in either party and put forth a hopeful message about the ability to tackle the nation’s problems, saying, “You voted for our tomorrow to be better than our yesterday.”

In Ohio, Mrs. Clinton received 58.0% of the vote while Mr. Sanders garnered 41.5% with 40% of the vote counted. With 96% of Florida precincts reporting, Mrs. Clinton had 64.5% of the vote compared with 33.2% for Mr. Sanders. In North Carolina, with 53% of the precincts in, the former secretary of state had 55.4% versus 40.2% for Mr. Sanders..

With 214 pledged delegates at stake, Florida was the night’s biggest prize, while Ohio had 143 pledged delegates up for grabs. They will be awarded proportionally.

Heading into Tuesday, Mr. Sanders was ramping up his attacks on Mrs. Clinton, and has vowed to fight all the way to the summer convention. But he may now face increasing pressure to back off and revert to his earlier role as a candidate primarily driving a progressive, populist message rather than pursuing a likely path to the nomination.

Mrs. Clinton had been expected to easily win Florida, but Ohio was closely fought. Mr. Sanders had hoped to parlay a victory last week in Michigan to the neighboring state. Both have seen a drain in manufacturing jobs, and Mr. Sanders put the blame squarely on free-trade agreements that Mrs. Clinton has long supported.

Mrs. Clinton completed a sweep of the South, where strong support from African-Americans pumped up her totals. But her Ohio win was more important, showing she could win in the industrial Midwest.

Coming into Tuesday’s voting, Mrs. Clinton already had a commanding lead: Her 768 pledged delegates, those chosen by voters, was 214 more than Mr. Sanders. Including so-called superdelegates, who are party leaders who can vote for anyone, she had 1,235—more than double her rival’s take and more than half the number needed for the nomination, according to a tally by the Associated Press.

The Sanders campaign now looks ahead to contests next week in Arizona, Utah and Idaho, three states where aides have hoped to do well. But the next big delegate hauls aren’t awarded until April: first in Wisconsin, and then the giant prize of New York.

“In the states that are coming down the pike, we have great opportunities to win many of them, so we’re feeling really good,” Mr. Sanders said at lunchtime Tuesday in Chicago.

The question now is what tone he will adopt in coming days. In the leadup to Tuesday’s contests, the Vermont senator targeted Mrs. Clinton’s record of support for free-trade deals, and for the backing she receives from an outside super PAC.

In Florida, Mrs. Clinton’s advantage was on display Tuesday in Miami, home to large populations of Hispanic and African-American voters who have gravitated to her campaign.

TRUMP WINS ALL NORTHERN MARIANA ISLAND CAUCUS DELEGATES

TRUMP WINS ALL NORTHERN MARIANA ISLAND CAUCUS DELEGATES:

Sources: CBS News, Youtube

**** Trump wins the Northern Marianas Islands caucus

Donald Trump has posted a big win in the GOP caucus on the Northern Mariana Islands.

The party says the billionaire businessman won almost 73 percent of the vote in Tuesday's caucus. He will get all nine delegates from the U.S. territory.

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz came in second with 24 percent of the vote, while Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio finished a distant third and fourth, respectively.

Both the Republican and Democratic parties hold nominating contests in U.S. territories. The residents, however, cannot vote in the general election. The party said a total of 471 people voted.

Trump leads the race for delegates with 469. Cruz has 370, Rubio has 163, and Kasich has 63.

It takes 1,237 delegates to win the GOP nomination.

Hillary Clinton won the islands' Democratic caucus last weekend.

MAINE HEARTS SANDERS - HE WINS CAUCUSES (DEMS VOTING GIMMICK)

Maine caucus

Last updated Mar 7, 2016 at 1:41 PM ET

REPUBLICAN

DEMOCRATIC

Mar 625 delegates

91% reporting	Delegates	Votes
Sanders (won)	15	64.3% 2,231
Clinton	7	35.5% 1,232

MAINE HEARTS SANDERS - HE WINS:

SANDERS IS DEMOCRAT'S GIMMICK TO ATTRACT VOTERS WHO DON'T LIKE HILLARY.

VOTING FOR SANDERS IS A VOTE FOR HILLARY.

Sources:  AP, NBC News, Youtube

**** Bernie Sanders Wins Maine Caucuses

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wins the Maine caucuses, NBC News projects. 

This is the latest caucus state Sanders has won in the Democratic presidential nominating process. 

He also won two caucuses Saturday - Nebraska and Kansas. Sanders will win 15 of Maine's 30 delegates, while Clinton will be awarded eight, according to allocation estimates by NBC News.

 Including super delegates, the statewide totals are 16 for Sanders, who has the support of one super delegate, and 11 for Clinton, who has the support of three super delegates.

"With another double-digit victory, we have now won by wide margins in states from New England to the Rocky Mountains and from the Midwest to the Great Plains," Sanders said in a statement. "This weekend alone we won in Maine, Kansas and Nebraska. 

The pundits might not like it but the people are making history. We now have the momentum to go all the way to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia."

TRUMP FIRES RUBIO, TELLS HIM TO CONCEDE (FLORIDA PRIMARY)

TRUMP FIRES RUBIO, TELLS HIM TO CONCEDE:

RUBIO SHOULD NEVER HAVE GONE POSTAL ON TRUMP AS ROMNEY WANTED.

HAS RUBIO TARNISHED HIS NICE GUY IMAGE FOREVER?

Sources: NBC News, CNN, BREITBART, Youtube

**** Donald Trump Celebrates 2 Wins, Calls on Rubio to Drop Out

Donald Trump celebrated his wins in Kentucky and Louisiana Saturday, calling for Marco Rubio to drop out of the 2016 race and saying he wants a "one on one" contest against Ted Cruz. 

"I think it's time now that he drop out of the race," he said of Rubio, who has won just one contest to date. 

"I think it's time for Marco to clean the deck," he added later in the press conference. "I do. And I say that respectfully.

Rubio campaign spokesman called Trump a "con artist" in response, and suggested that Trump is worried Rubio will win the Florida primary and gain momentum. 

A relatively subdued Trump, who appeared at Trump International in West Palm Beach, congratulated Cruz on his wins in Maine and Kansas, though he said his own campaign "really didn't spend very much time" in either state. 

"He should do well in Maine, because it's very close to Canada," he joked of Cruz. "Let's face it." 

Just after he suggested he wanted a "one on one" race against Cruz, Trump also pushed for unity, saying that the party should "come together and stop this foolishness.

Alluding to suggestions that mainstream Republicans could mount a third party candidate if Trump is the nominee, Trump warned against the possibility of splitting conservatives in the general election. 

"It 100 percent guarantees the election of the Democrat," he said, adding that the next president will name multiple Supreme Court justices. 

Trump supporters filled the front rows of the press conference and reacted to some questions from the press, including boos when one reporter asked about this week's back-and-forth with Marco Rubio regarding the size of his hands. 

Indicating a member of his golf club in the audience, Trump asked: "Do I hit the ball good? Do I hit the ball long? Is Trump strong?" 

The press conference was delayed while Trump awaited results from the GOP primary in Kentucky. 

"I've been in competitions all my life. There is nothing so exciting as this stuff," he said when he began his remarks. 

Trump announced the projected Kentucky win around an hour before the close contest was called. 

"We won the two big ones, folks," Trump said, adding the states were Louisiana and Kentucky, at around 10 p.m. E.T. in Florida.

When informed the Kentucky race hadn't been called, Trump left behind closed doors, but time would prove him right. NBC News and other outlets projected Trump would win Kentucky over Cruz shortly before 11 p.m. 

SANDERS GRABS KANSAS & NEBRASKA; HILLARY TAKES LOUISIANA

SANDERS GRABS KANSAS & NEBRASKA; HILLARY TAKES LOUISIANA:

A VOTE FOR SANDERS IS A VOTE FOR HILLARY.

SANDERS IS HILLARY'S 2016 DEBATE COACH.

Sources:  AP, ABC News, BBC, CNN, YouTube

**** Sanders Wins Kansas, Nebraska; Clinton Takes Louisiana

Democratic voters in three states went to the polls on Saturday in the Democratic nominating contest, and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders won Kansas and Nebraska while frontrunner Hillary Clinton took Louisiana.

Here are the results:

Kansas (caucuses)

Bernie Sanders has won the Kansas Democratic caucuses.

With 100 percent of precincts reporting, Sanders won 68 percent of the vote compared to 32 percent for Clinton. Delegates are allocated proportionally and there is a 15% threshold so both candidates will get delegates.

"The biggest states are yet to come. New York State, California, Oregon, Washington State. States that we think we can do very well in. Every state is important," Sanders said at a campaign event in Michigan on Saturday night. "Michigan is important. We’re going to win some, we’re going to lose some. But, I think basically that we have a path towards victory. I’m very proud, not only that we seem to be winning these states, but winning them with pretty big numbers.”

Nebraska (caucuses)

ABC News projects Bernie Sanders will win the Nebraska Democratic caucuses, based on analysis of the vote.

Louisiana (primary)

With 100 percent of the precincts reporting in, Hillary Clinton has won Louisiana Democratic primary.

Speaking Saturday night in Detroit, Michigan, Clinton congratulated Sanders for “running a strong campaign.”

“I am thrilled we are adding to our pledged delegate count. I am grateful to everyone who turned out to support us,” she said. “But now all eyes turn to Michigan. And I can tell you this we’re going to work for every vote.”

Clinton also criticized Republicans and said our politics has been “hijacked” by “extreme ideologues all across the country.”

Hillary Clinton: 71%

Bernie Sanders: 23%

KENTUCKY HIRES TRUMP; RUBIO ZERO

KENTUCKY HIRES TRUMP; RUBIO ZERO

THAT'S 12 WINS FOR TRUMP.

WHEN WILL RUBIO CONCEDE??

Sources: AP,  Fox News, Real Clear Politics, YouTube

Kentucky caucus:

Last updated Mar 5, 2016 at 11:24 PM ET

REPUBLICAN

DEMOCRATIC

Mar 5, 201646 delegates

87% reporting	Delegates	Votes
Trump (won)	15	35.6% 73,151
Cruz	13	31.4% 64,652
Rubio	7	16.7% 34,295
Kasich	5	14.6% 30,066

**** Donald Trump Wins Kentucky Caucuses

Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential caucuses in Kentucky, adding to his victory earlier Saturday in Louisiana.

That’s the 12th state win for the billionaire businessman, who aimed to extend his delegate lead over Texas Sen. Ted Cruz in Saturday’s nominating contests.

Among his supporters in Kentucky was 57-year-old Karen Gallardo, a lifelong Republican who said she was proud to caucus for the real estate mogul.

She says, “It wasn’t a close call.”

She adds, “The reason I want Trump so bad is that I feel he has a vision, he knows the country. He is a successful businessman.”

TRUMP SCORES A HARD VICTORY WITH LOUISIANA; RUBIO ZERO

TRUMP SCORES A HARD VICTORY WITH CRUZ'S NEIGHBORING STATE LOUISIANA:

Sources:  CNN, NY Post, YouTube

**** Donald Trump Wins Louisiana Primary

Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential primary in Louisiana.

Trump’s win on Saturday was a blow to Sen. Ted Cruz, who hails from neighboring Texas.

Both Cruz and Trump had campaigned Friday in Louisiana. Cruz has tried to portray himself as the only person who can beat Trump and the best positioned to win the general election.

But in the end, voters like David Benitez in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie gave Trump the nod. Benitez said he was attracted by Trump’s business experience, his stance on border control and a general sense that he would fight for the country.

TED CRUZ TAKES MAINE, RUBIO NOTHING

CRUZ TAKES MAINE; RUBIO NOTHING

Sources:  CNN, CBS News, Youtube

**** Ted Cruz edges out Donald Trump for a Maine Republican caucus win

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz notched another victory in Maine's Republican caucus late Saturday evening, edging out current GOP front-runner Donald Trump by 13 points.

Cruz earned about 46 percent of the vote, with Trump coming in second with about 33 percent of the vote. Ohio Gov. John Kasich came in third with approximately 12 percent of the vote and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio trailed with just 8 percent of the vote.

Cruz will receive 12 delegates, Trump nine, and Kasich two.

Trump had gained some support from the state's party leadership last month, when Maine Gov. Paul LePage endorsed him, shortly after New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced his backing of the billionaire. But the nod from LePage -- himself a bombastic governor who has drawn criticism over inflammatory, off-the-cuff remarks -- was not enough to tamp down Cruz's base.

Three other states weigh in Saturday for the Republican primary race: Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana.

Earlier in the day, Cruz won in a landslide victory in Kansas, trouncing Trump by double digits. Cruz won 48 percent of the vote, Trump earned 23 percent, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio had 17 percent and Ohio Gov. John Kasich had 11 percent.

Saturday's states have a total of 155 delegates up for grabs.

Maine will award 23 delegates in the Republican primary race.

KANSAS CAUCUSES: CRUZ COMES IN FIRST, TRUMP SECOND

KANSAS:  CRUZ COMES IN FIRST, TRUMP SECOND

Sources: AP, CNN, Fox News, The Louisville Courier-Journal, The Shreveport Times, USA Today, YouTube

~ Kansas caucus

Last updated Mar 5, 2016 at 6:30 PM ET

REPUBLICAN

DEMOCRATIC

Mar 540 delegates

75% reporting	Delegates	Votes
CRUZ	17	50.7% 24,602
TRUMP	6	24.4% 11,856
RUBIO	0	14.5% 7,029
KASICH	0

**** Ted Cruz Tops Trump In Republican Caucuses

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz won an easy victory in the Kansas Republican caucuses Saturday, the Associated Press projected, as balloting continued in Louisiana, Kentucky and Maine.

It was Cruz's fifth win of the Republican primary season, easily fending off Trump and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, both of whom made forays into the state. Ohio Gov. John Kasich trailed the field, and neurosurgeon Ben Carson dropped out of the race Friday.

"God bless Kansas,'' Cruz told supporters in Idaho, moments after the first Saturday race was called. "And the scream you hear--the howl you hear from Washington, D.C.--is utter terror for what we the people are doing together.

 What we’re seeing is conservatives coming together.''

Cruz, vying to solidify his candidacy as the alternative to Trump,  also noted that early returns also showed him leading in Maine.

"I am here today with a word of hope and encouragement. I believe this election will center on three issues: jobs, freedom and security.’’

Trump skipped a scheduled Saturday appearance at a conference of conservatives near Washington, D.C., to push his unsuccessful bid in Kansas, making personal appeals for support at his trademark raucous rallies.

"If I lose, I'm going to be so angry at you," Trump told a crowd in Wichita on Saturday.

The Saturday contests — wedged between Super Tuesday voting earlier in the week and consequential battles later this month in Michigan, Ohio and Florida — did not garner the same hot spotlight, though Kansas voters showed up in force at caucus sites throughout the state.

In Kentucky, meanwhile, turnout was expected to be low as the state traditionally has not voted this early and Saturday marked the first time a presidential nominee was selected by caucus since 1984.

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who bowed out of the Republican race last month, pushed for the change to a caucus that also allowed him to pursue re-election to his Senate seat, a decision that Saturday won decidedly mixed reviews.

Gov. Matt Bevin said the move helped bring early attention to state, where Trump headlined a rowdy gathering in Louisville.

"Look at this – there are lines of people waiting to vote," said Bevin, who declined to say which candidate he voted for. "For everybody who thinks that having a caucus in Kentucky was not a good thing, have you ever seen this kind of enthusiasm for a primary in the state of Kentucky? You never have."

Yet some voters said the Republican party failed to adequately publicize the change, leading to widespread confusion.

“There are so many uninformed Republicans! The Republican Party of KY has done a poor job of informing its voters of this change!'' Kentucky teacher Jamie Michelle Amburgey wrote on the state GOP Facebook page.

In Louisiana, with 800,000 registered Republicans, the campaign has been shadowed by serious economic troubles as state officials are struggling to reconcile yawning budget deficits that threatened basic public services.

Former Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, once among a formerly crowded field of Republican candidates, dropped out of the race in November after gaining little support.

Going into Saturday's voting, Trump led with 329 delegates. Cruz had 231, Rubio 110 and Kasich 25. In all, 155 GOP delegates were at stake in Saturday's races.