Sanders trounces Clinton in Washington, Alaska
Published March 27, 2016
Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders acknowledging supporters at a campaign rally in Miami, Florida, March 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Bernie Sanders handily won nominating contests in Washington State and Alaska, narrowing the delegate gap with Hillary Clinton, the front-runner in the race for the Democratic presidential nod.
The delegates won Saturday by Sanders, the Independent senator from Vermont who is the first Jewish candidate to win major party nominating contests, bring him to 956 pledged delegates to Clinton’s 1,234, a gap of less than 300.
Sanders still faces a daunting challenge to catch up, but his overwhelming wins in both states – 82 percent to 18 percent in Alaska and 73 percent to 27 percent in Washington – could lend his campaign momentum and bring in donations.
Hawaii caucuses also took place Saturday, but results were not yet in. Candidates need 2,383 to win the Democratic nomination.
Clinton, a former secretary of state, leads Sanders 469-29 in “superdelegates” who have said they plan to vote for her. But the superdelegates, or party officials, are not formally pledged and would be under pressure to support the candidate who won the majority of pledged delegates.
The next nominating contest for both parties is in Wisconsin on April 5. Among Republicans, Donald Trump, a real estate magnate, is leading Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
