Biden looks to clinch nomination as 7 states, DC vote

MONTCLAIR (US): Joe Biden could seize the number of delegates needed to formally clinch the Democrats' presidential nomination on Tuesday as seven states and the District of Columbia push through a pandemic and exploding racial tensions to host the largest slate of primary elections in almost three months.

Voters will be asked to navigate curfews, health concerns and a sharp increase in mail balloting as elections take place from Maryland to Montana. Four states were originally scheduled to vote in April but delayed their contests because of the Coronavirus outbreak.

Pennsylvania offers the day's biggest trove of delegates and represents a high-profile test case for Republicans and Democrats working to strengthen their operations in one of the most important general election battlegrounds.

We think we're prepared, said state Democratic Party Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills.

Thank goodness we have the opportunity of working this out in the primary because we don't know where we'll be with the pandemic in November.

Biden needs to win 89% of all delegates at stake on Tuesday to clinch the nomination, but his role as his party's clear presidential nominee is not in danger should he fall short.

With a dominant showing on Super Tuesday in early March, the former vice president pushed out all his major opponents. He will almost certainly secure the needed delegates later in the month if necessary.