Biden's 3 more victories increase pressure on Sanders to quit

Biden's quest for his party's nomination now seems within reach. He needs less than half of the remaining delegates to become the nominee. The party establishment has increasingly lined up behind him, meanwhile, as the best option in November to try and unseat President Donald Trump.

Washington: Former US vice president Joe Biden swept to victory in Florida, Illinois and Arizona, increasingly pulling away with a Democratic presidential primary upended by the coronavirus and building pressure on Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to abandon his campaign.

The former vice president's third big night in as many weeks came amid tremendous uncertainty confronting the Democratic contest as it collides with efforts to slow the spread of the virus that have shut down large swathes of American life.

As a battleground state for the 2020 presidential election, Florida is the biggest state to vote Tuesday, with 219 pledged delegates to this year's Democratic National Convention to award.

Polls were shuttered in Ohio, and although balloting went ahead in Florida, Illinois and Arizona, election workers and voters reported problems.

Biden's quest for his party's nomination now seems within reach. He needs less than half of the remaining delegates to become the nominee. The party establishment has increasingly lined up behind him, meanwhile, as the best option in November to try and unseat President Donald Trump.

"Our campaign has had a very good night and is a little closer to securing the Democratic nomination," Biden said after his latest two primary victories.