Hillary Clinton (Xinhua file photo)
WASHINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Hillary Clinton on Tuesday was projected to win the New Jersey Democratic primary, one day after she secured enough superdelegates to become the Democratic presumptive presidential nominee in the 2016 U.S. election.
Clinton's expected win in New Jersey, first projected by Fox News, had previously been regarded by U.S. mainstream media as a victory that would formally hand her the party nomination.
However, the significance of the victory was watered down after the Associated Press (AP) reported Monday night that Clinton reached the number of delegates required to notch the Democratic nomination.
According to AP's latest delegate count, besides the 1,812 pledged delegates she won in previous primaries and caucuses, Clinton had also garnered the support of 571 superdelegates, party leaders who are free to support any candidate at the national convention in July.
Democratic voters in five other U.S. states, including Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota and California, also went to polling stations and caucuses on Tuesday as the grueling nomination race was all but over.
The focus is now on the result of California Democratic primary which is expected to come out later on Tuesday. 475 pledged delegates were up for grab in this primary.
Defying some U.S. media reports which say that Clinton looks set to land the Democratic nomination, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is relying on a strong performance in California to persuade superdelegates to change their allegiance at the July national convention.
Meanwhile, presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump won an easy victory in New Jersey.
Related:
Profile: Hillary Clinton poised to be first female standard-bearer of major U.S. political party
WASHINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday reached the number of delegates required to notch the Democratic nomination, according to the Associated Press's latest delegate count. Full story
Top GOP leader calls Donald Trump's criticism of Hispanic-American judge "textbook racism"
WASHINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday doubled down on his criticism of presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, calling his comments on a judge because of his ethnic background "textbook racism." Full story
U.S. 2016 Democratic primary season winds up, underdog candidate continues fight
WASHINGTON, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Democratic voters in six U.S. states went to polling stations and caucuses on Tuesday as the grueling nomination race was all but over. Full story
Experience is Clinton's biggest advantage over Trump in presidential race: poll
WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- When it comes to experience, U.S. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton has the advantage over Republican nominee Donald Trump, according to a newly released Gallup poll. Full story
