Sanders pulls off huge wins in three caucuses

In a warning shot to Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders on Sunday trounced the Democratic front-runner in the crucial presidential caucuses in Washington, Alaska and Hawaii, making “inroads” into her substantial lead in the race for the party’s nomination for the White House. 

Sanders, 74, won Washington state by getting more than 72 per cent of the total votes counted. In Alaska, he received more than 80 per cent of the votes. He also won in Hawaii with a big margin over the former secretary of state. 

For Clinton, 68, who continues to lead in the delegate count and her path to the White House appears to be much easier as compared to Sanders, a defeat in the crucial state of Washington is seen as a major setback. Home to major iconic US companies like Boeing and Microsoft, Washington state has more than 100 delegates, a large chunk of which has now gone to Sanders. 

“We knew things were going to improve as we headed west,” Sanders said at a rally in Madison, Wisconsin. “We are making significant inroads in Clinton’s lead. We have a path toward victory,” the Vermont Senator told his supporters. Clintons, including the former president Bill Clinton, and their daughter Chelsie Clinton, spent quite a bit of time in Washington. 

In Alaska, which has 16 delegates at stake, the wife of Sanders campaigned for a few days. “We knew things were going to improve as we headed West,” Sanders said. 

“With your help we’re going to win right here in Wisconsin,” he said. “So don’t let anyone tell you we can’t win the nomination, or win the general election. 

We’re going to do both of those things.” He said the momentum building behind his campaign comes from big crowds at rallies, from overwhelming victories, from record turnouts at caucuses and primaries and from a grassroots campaign.