Washington (CNN) – Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton scored huge victories Tuesday that bring them closer to a monumental duel for the White House in the fall.
Trump’s political strength was on display with a clean sweep of races in Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Clinton delivered big wins in Maryland and Pennsylvania — the biggest prizes of the night — along with Delaware and Connecticut. Bernie Sanders picked up his sole victory of the night in Rhode Island .
The wins for Trump — following a massive victory last week in New York — move him significantly closer to the 1,237 delegates he needs to win the nomination outright heading into the convention in July. In the process, he inflicted serious blows on the legitimacy of claims by rivals Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich that he should be deprived of the nomination.
“This to me was our biggest night,” Trump said in his victory speech. “I consider myself the presumptive nominee.”
Clinton’s big wins, meanwhile, help bolster her campaign’s argument that it is time for Sanders to make a decision to stop personal and political attacks on the former secretary of state that could weaken her ahead of a showdown in November with Republicans.
She climbed on stage to cheers in her election night headquarters in Philadelphia, the city that will host the Democratic National Convention this summer.
“With your help, we are going to come back to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention with the most votes and the most pledged delegates,” Clinton declared. “And we will unify our party to win this election and build an America where we can all rise together, an America where we lift each other up instead of tearing each other down.”
Clinton foreshadowed the clash to come against Trump.
“The other day, Mr. Trump accused me, of playing the, quote, woman card,” she said. “Well, if fighting for women’s health care and paid family leave and equal pay is playing the woman card, then deal me in.”
Trump struck back during his victory speech.
“I think the only card she has is the women’s card,” Trump said. “She has got nothing else going. Frankly, if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she would get 5% of the vote.”
