
And then there were five
There were, predictably, few surprises in the Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses for both Republicans and Democrats.
After the initial round of single-state contests, Super Tuesday saw Americans voting in 24 states. This was probably the largest number of single-day nominating contests ever in the US elections, as voters chose more than half the Democratic delegates and almost half of the Republican delegates to attend party conventions in August and September. These meets will pick the final nominees for president.
On the Republican side, full-scale battle seems to have been joined: the contest for presidential nomination is now much clearer. Senator John McCain is in a commanding position after winning several key states, including California, New York, New Jersey and Illinois. This leaves his chief rival, Mitt Romney — who has done well in many western states — slugging it out with a resurgent Mike Huckabee who, expectedly, swept up several southern states in the ‘Bible Belt’. For Democrats, however, Super Tuesday has made little difference in the dramatic toe-to-toe fight between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Not that many people seriously expected a different outcome, given the complex Democratic delegate system that made a decisive win by either candidate highly unlikely. In that sense, it is remarkable that the vote appears to have split so dramatically, with Mr Obama taking some big states, including his home state Illinois, while Ms Clinton won major battleground states like California, New York and New Jersey.
Going by the voting pattern so far, the uncertain state of the US economy continues to be the main concern for voters from both parties. Exit poll results suggest that after the economy, international issues vex Republican voters most followed by immigration, the Iraq war, and terrorism — in that order. This could explain why Senators McCain and Clinton have done well in states where voters valued candidates with a long history of public service. Although it’s still too early to tell, a relatively short fight to the finish on the Republican side now looks set to be matched by a more drawn-out Democratic race.

6 states contributed to 86.37% of new Covid-19 cases, says govt

PM Modi congratulates Bolsonaro on successful launch of Amazonia-1 satellite
- The launch took place from Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Narrow escape for Odisha IPS officers as 3 Satkosia eco retreat tents catch fire
- Transport commissioner Sanjeeb Panda and his IPS officer wife Santosh Bala (Home department special secretary), were in one of the three tents that caught fire.

News updates from HT: ABP-C-Voter opinion poll predicts edge for TMC in Bengal

Bombay HC refuses to interfere in physical criteria for medical admission
- The petitioner had moved the high court in January this year after she was declared ineligible for admission to an undergraduate medical course as her left hand was amputated.

70-year-old woman murdered in her house in Kalyan, police hunt for clues
- Police said the killer slit the elderly woman's throat with a sharp weapon.

'Regret not learning Tamil' over the years, says PM Modi on Mann Ki Baat
- "I did not learn Tamil. It is such a beautiful language, which is popular all over the world," the prime minister said.

On Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi shares his ‘regret of sorts’

Congress 'war' room abuzz with activity as battle for 4 states, 1 UT draws near
- The rising demand for the ‘war room’ also coincides with the shrinking real estate space for the Congress in the national capital.

Be warriors not worriers: PM Modi tells students set to appear in exams

Links for virtual court hearings can't be shared on WhatsApp groups, says SC

Income Tax raids ceramic tiles magnate in Chennai

'If you dare...': Rahul's latest challenge to PM Modi ahead of Mann Ki Baat
- Gandhi has on several occasions attacked the government over the three farm laws, alleging that they are intended to benefit "handful of PM Modi’s friends".

On Mann Ki Baat, PM Modi pushes for 'lab to land' mantra

Eatery owner's son, injured in Srinagar militant attack, succumbs 11 day later
- The victims was being treated at Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital in Srinagar where he was on ventilator.