Trump edges closer to nomination as he sweeps five states

Presidential candidate Donald Trump swept primaries in five Northeastern states on Tuesday (April 26) in a major show of strength that moved the New York billionaire closer to securing the Republican presidential nomination.

Trump rolled up victories over rivals John Kasich and Ted Cruz in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware, with a margin of victory rivaling that in his home state of New York a week ago.

In a speech and news conference at Trump Tower in New York, Trump said it was time for Cruz and Kasich to get out of the Republican race so the party can begin to unify behind him ahead of the November 8 presidential election to succeed Democratic President Barack Obama.

“It’s over. As far as I am concerned, it’s over. These two guys cannot win this. There’s no path,” he said.

For the Republicans, the Northeastern battles set the stage for a potentially pivotal primary contest next week in Indiana, where Trump has a small lead and got an endorsement from former Indiana University basketball coach Bobby Knight.

Although the race remains fluid, Trump’s wins made it less likely that Republicans would choose their nominee at a contested convention in July in Cleveland, an outcome seen by Cruz and Kasich as their only chance at the nomination.