Trump wins Nevada caucus
Rubio captures second place with fewer than 2,000 more votes than Cruz
Las Vegas, Feb. 24: Donald Trump on Wednesday stormed to victory in the crucial Nevada caucuses as he notched up his third straight win, inching closer to the US Republican presidential nomination ahead of a key multi-state vote next week.
“We love Nevada,” said the 69-year-old real estate tycoon, who has emerged as the Republican frontrunner after entering politics only last June.
“We will be celebrating for a long time tonight,” he told cheering supporters during his brief victory speech at his party here.
The billionaire reality TV star trounced his rivals with a resounding victory which sent shockwaves across the Republican party as he swept almost every category of the electorate to build his dominance in the delegate count.
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida captured the second place with fewer than 2,000 more votes than Ted Cruz of Texas as final vote totals were reported.
Earlier, with about 90 per cent of the votes counted, American media had given Trump 46 per cent while Rubio and Cruz trailed by over 20 points in a close race for the second position. “This is an amazing night. We weren't expected to win too much and now we're winning, winning, winning the country,” Trump said. “And soon the country is going to start winning, winning, winning.”
Turnout was high in the crucial caucuses exceeding all expectations. The remaining two candidates for the Republican presi- dential nomination, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson and Ohio Governor John Kasich, came in at about six and four per cent, respectively.