Democratic primary: Joe Biden projected to secure landslide win in Florida and Illinois

Vice president looking to sew up contest to take on Donald Trump in November

Joe Biden has been projected to secure a landslide wins in Florida and Illinois, on day that might mark a crucial milestone in his battle against Bernie Sanders.

On a voting day unavoidably overshadowed by the coronavirus crisis, and as the US reported 100 deaths and infections in all 50 states, multiple media outlets predicted the former vice president was poised to take a huge step closer to securing the nomination with a win the Sunshine state. He was later projected to win Illinois.

Four states were due to hold ballots on Tuesday to help decide a nominee to take on Donald Trump in November – Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Illinois.

Ohio’s governor managed to secure a postponement of his state’s vote, concerned that both voters and poll workers were putting themselves at risk.

Of those, Florida was the most important for several reasons.

Firstly, it held the most number of delegates with 219, along with 29 electoral votes for the general election.

Also, Florida has long been a battleground state for whomever seeks to win the White House.

Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton there four years ago 48-47, while the last presidential candidate to win in Florida but not go on to secure the presidency was George HW Bush in 1992.

He lost his re-election bid in 1992 when he was defeated by Bill Clinton.

Illinois was the second most important state being fought over, with 155 delegates and 20 electoral college votes.