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Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Clinton on Verge of|Clinching Nomination

(CN) - Hillary Clinton cruised to victory in Puerto Rico's Democratic presidential primary on Sunday, placing her on the verge of capturing her party's nomination.

A total of 60 pledged delegates were at stake in Sunday's contest. Also in play were seven superdelegates, who were also expected to line up behind the victor.

The final results have been slow to be announced because officials on the island counted ballots by hand and focused first on releasing the results of local primary elections

With 59 percent of the vote counted Monday morning, Clinton led with 61 percent to Sanders' 39 percent. If that margin stands, Clinton is expected to pick up at least 40 delegates.

Coupled with an apparent blowout victory in Democratic caucuses held in the U.S. Virgin Islands on Saturday, Clinton is now less than 30 delegates short of the 2,383 needed to win the nomination if one counts the superdelegates.

The delegate breakdown as of Monday morning looks like this:

Clinton has 1,809 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses; Sanders has 1,519. When including superdelegates, her lead over Sanders widens considerably, 2,357 to 1,565.

"We just won Puerto Rico! ¡Gracias a la Isla del Encanto por esta victoria!" Clinton tweeted Sunday night.

Clinton's victory in Puerto Rico was no surprise. In 2008, she crushed then Sen. Barack Obama 68 percent to 32 percent.

However, the generous support the island has given her is somewhat ephemeral. Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in the general election.

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