After Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump won all five April 26 primaries and Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton won four of the five Northeastern states, their rivals made major campaign announcements. On Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate and Texas senator announced his vice president pick, former Hewlett-Packard CEO and former Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina. “For the 13 months of this race, there has been a proven, consistent, courageous fighter,” Cruz said. “A fighter who terrifies Hillary. And who will do the same to our enemies. And that’s why I am proud to announce Carly Fiorina as my vice presidential running mate.” In Democratic rival Bernie Sanders’s post-primary statement, he hinted it was unlikely he would win the nomination but would remain in the race. “The people in every state in this country should have the right to determine who they want as president and what the agenda of the Democratic Party should be,” Sanders said. He said he was dismissing campaign staffers from states of previous primaries, adding he looked forward to issue-oriented campaigns for the remaining primaries. Clinton won 204 delegates by winning the majority in Connecticut (27 of 55), Delaware (12 of 21), Maryland (59 of 95) and Pennsylvania (95 of 189). Her opponent, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, won only in Rhode Island, gaining 13 out of the 24 delegates. According to FiveThirtyEight, Sanders would have to win 65 percent of the vote in the remaining 11 Democratic primaries to gain the nomination. Ahead of the Democratic National Convention on July 25-28, Clinton has 2,151 of the needed 2,383 delegates needed for the nomination. Clinton, in her victory speech, told supporters “Now, with your help, we’re going to come back to Philadelphia for the Democratic National Convention with the most votes and the most pledged delegates.” Trump said at a news conference if he won the party’s nomination, he is prepared to take on Clinton. “I think she’s a flawed candidate, and she’s going to be easy to beat,” Trump said. Trump also said, “Frankly if Hillary Clinton were a man, I don’t think she’d get 5 percent of the vote.” Trump’s comment started uproar and a comment from Clinton. Rep. Renee Ellmers said she thinks Trump can overcome his unpopularity among women voter with straight talk and a plan of action. “This is an election unlike any other election,” Ellmers said. “To me, this is breaking all the rules, this is going against any of the typical history books and elections of the past.” Trump picked up 109 of the 117 delegates available Tuesday. Rival John Kasich won five delegates and Ted Cruz won three delegates from Rhode Island. Kasich and Cruz have each been holding on in hopes of a brokered convention, but Trump inched closer to the needed 1,237 delegates, totaling 954. Cruz and Kasich have 562 delegates and 153 delegates, respectively. For Cruz’s campaign, he is looking onto the next primary in Indiana on May 3. Cruz has been polling behind Trump in single digits, according to various polls. “Tonight, this campaign moves back to more favorable terrain,” Cruz said in Indiana Tuesday.
