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The unexpected rise of businessman Donald Trump as a political force went a notch further when he was confirmed as a Republican party nominee last night.
In the Democratic party race, senator Bernie Sanders won a symbolic victory against Hillary Clinton because he is unlikely to overtake the numbers she needs to be elected presidential candidate.
Trump defeated rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich in Indiana state where he obtained 53.2% of the votes to Cruz’s 36.6% and Kasich 7.6%.
After suffering a series of primary defeats to Trump in other states, Cruz had banked and invested on Indiana arresting the Trump movement.
He travelled extensively across the state, trying to make his case.
He spoke out strongly against Trump, describing him as a pathological liar who only cared about himself and who boasted about his philandering ways.
But in the end it was not good enough as Trump romped to another victory.
Establishment Republicans had hoped that Cruz would win as Trump is an outsider to the movement. There are also fears that Trump has antagonised key constituencies such as Hispanics, African Americans and women and could lose by a mile to a Democratic candidate, presumed to be Hillary Clinton.
After his win, Trump reached out to Cruz. “I don’t know if he hates me or not, but Ted Cruz was a great and tough competitor”.
Cruz suspended his campaign and told supporters that “tonight I am sorry that our path has been foreclosed”.
But he vowed to continue to fight for liberty, without disclosing what he meant by that.
Clinton tried to underplay Sanders’ victory, saying: “I am really focused on moving into the general election. And I think that’s where we have to because we are competing against a rough candidate who will do or say anything.”
Clinton did not campaign in Indiana; instead it was her husband Bill who moved around, trying to win her votes.
