Presidential candidates prepare for a Super Tuesday showdown -- as more than a dozen states hold their nominating contests. It's the biggest day of the election calendar so far, and its named Super Tuesday for that very reason!
There were more delegates up for grabs on Super Tuesday than during any other day of the calendar. Republicans held primaries or caucuses in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia. A total of 595 Republican delegates were up for grabs of the 1,237 needed to clinch the GOP nomination. That's 48% of what's needed to win for Republicans.
Meanwhile, Democrats voted in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Virginia, as well as the U.S. Territory of American Samoa. The candidates were vying for 865 of the 2,383 delegates -- that's a little more than a third of what's needed for the nomination.
And when the counting was finished early Wednesday morning, the front runners - Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton had won the most states - seven each.
For the Republicans, Senator Ted Cruz won in Texas and Oklahoma, and Marco Rubio won Minnesota. Ohio Governor John Kasich did not win any state overall, but placed second to Trump in Massachusetts, and Vermont.
Democratic Senator Bernie Sanders won in four states, to keep his hopes of catching the former Secretary of State alive.
The states holding primaries on Super Tuesday have varied over the years. Ohio will hold its primary election in two weeks on March 15th.
Instructional Links
Website Article: ShareAmerica, What is Super Tuesday
https://share.america.gov/what-is-super-tuesday/
Website Article: New York Times, 2016 Primary Results and Calendar
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/us/elections/primary-calendar-and-results.html?_r=0
Website Article: National Constitution Center, A Brief History of the Super Tuesday Primaries
http://blog.constitutioncenter.org/2016/02/a-brief-history-of-the-super-tuesday-primaries/