The U.S. presidential campaign has entered the home stretch. The victories of Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican front-runner Donald Trump in the New York primaries last week consolidated their positions as likely nominees. Neither outcome is guaranteed, of course, but if the two win primaries this week — and both look set to do so — then the nominations are theirs to lose.
In the Democratic race, Clinton beat the projections when she walloped Sen. Bernie Sanders in her home state. Her 16-point margin of victory outpaced forecasts, leaving Clinton with 1,930 delegates, just shy of the 2,383 needed to secure the nomination. Most observers believe that Clinton has sewn up the contest, although a wild card, such as legal troubles stemming from her email account while she was secretary of state, could derail the campaign. That is a long shot, however.
Sanders has 1,223 delegates and his supporters insist that voters are rallying behind him. The claim that momentum was swinging in his direction has been muted by Clinton's win in New York. Sanders' support is strong but he has limited appeal. Exit polls show that voters across the board back the front-runner. His claim that Clinton rode a tidal wave of support from early Southern primaries is true, but voters in those states look more like Democratic (and national) demographics that do his supporters.