Arizona, Utah results show it’s a close fight

Although Republican Trump swept to victory in Arizona on Tuesday, his rival Ted Cruz showed some fight with a win in Utah that gave hope to establishment Republicans who fear Trump would lead the party to ruin in the presidential election. On the Democratic side, favourite Hillary Clinton routed challenger Bernie 

Sanders in Arizona to stretch her advantage in the race for her party’s presidential nomination. Sanders, however, won contests in Utah and Idaho to bolster his case that he still has a chance despite Clinton’s big lead. 

Trump helped himself in Arizona with a hard-line anti-immigration message and tough talk on Islamic militants to easily defeat Cruz, a US senator from Texas, and Ohio Governor John Kasich. He won all of Arizona’s 58 delegates. Cruz, though, won big in Utah’s caucuses, giving hope to those Republicans who fear Trump’s proposal to deport 11 million illegal immigrants and build a wall on the US border with Mexico would guarantee a Democratic victory in the Nov. 8 election. 

Clinton seized on the Brussels attacks to argue that neither Trump nor Cruz can be trusted to lead the fight against Islamic State militants. Trump has called for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States and Cruz said he would send police patrols into Muslim neighbourhoods in the United States. “This is a time for America to lead, not cower,” Clinton told supporters in Seattle in a victory speech. 

Sanders said his Utah and Idaho victories were powered by young people and working-class Americans who support his “political revolution.” Sanders is looking for wins in many of the six Democratic contests this week. Alaska, Hawaii and Washington will vote on Saturday.