Clinton, Trump take Florida, Rubio quits

Ron Kampeas

Marco Rubio speaking at a press conference about Israel at a synagogue in West Palm Beach, Florida, March 11, 2106. (Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images)

Marco Rubio speaking at a press conference about Israel at a synagogue in West Palm Beach, Florida, March 11, 2106. (Rhona Wise/AFP/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump each won the Florida primaries for their parties, bringing them one major step closer to a general election face-off. Marco Rubio suspended his campaign.

Trump’s victory Tuesday effectively ends in the Florida senator’s run; winning his home state was critical to keeping alive Rubio’s hopes for the presidency.

“While it is clear that we are on the right side, this year we will not be on the winning side,” Rubio said, conceding the race.

Ohio Gov. John Kasich held out hope of defeating Trump, a real estate magnate, in his home state Tuesday. Besides Florida and Ohio, Democrats and Republicans also voted Tuesday in North Carolina, Illinois and Missouri. Those results were not yet final.

Rubio’s departure would leave Kasich and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas as the only candidates in a position to oust Trump from the front-runner spot, although their options are narrowing.

Clinton, the former secretary of state, led her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., by over 30 points in Florida, with two thirds of the precincts reporting. Sanders had effectively ceded the state to her, focusing more on the three Midwestern states, hoping to reprise his surprise victory last week in Michigan. Media also called North Carolina for Clinton; she led Sanders in the state by 20 points, with 5 percent reporting.

Unless he picks up one or more of the states in play Tuesday Sanders, who is Jewish, will have a formidable task in attempting to overcome Clinton’s delegates lead.

The Clinton and Rubio campaigns each had major get out the vote drives in Florida.

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