Biden and Sanders are in a cut-throat battle for the right to face Trump – the last thing the Democrats wanted

The former vice president has struck a blow to the Vermont senator’s ambitions with some big wins on Super Tuesday, but there is a long way to go, writes Chris Stevenson

Comeback trail: Biden addresses supporters at a rally in Los Angeles on Tuesday (Reuters)

The race to battle Donald Trump for the presidency is finally down to two – Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders.

There is no doubt that Biden had the better night on Super Tuesday. Using the momentum he gathered from a big win in South Carolina and an energised African-American vote to sweep the states in the south, as well as picking off a couple of states that Sanders won in 2016. He also won Texas after what had looked a knife-edge vote for hours.

Sanders will be disappointed, although he did win the most delegate-rich state – California – and other states out west. There is still a path to the nomination, but Biden has stolen a march on him. Some pundits are suggesting that Texas is likely a bellwether for the nation and whoever claimed victory would likely take the nomination.