Kasich Scores First Win In Ohio; Big Wins For Trump, Clinton Elsewhere
MIAMI (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Hillary Clinton won delegate-heavy Florida Tuesday, but Ohio Gov. John Kasich scored his first primary victory in his home state.
Meanwhile, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) suspended his campaign.
Trump won in Florida despite a last-ditch effort by Rubio to win his home state and keep his candidacy alive. A short time after Trump's victory was announced, Rubio declared that his campaign would be suspended, and, "After tonight, it is clear that while we are on the right side, this year, we will not be on the winning side."
Trump also won North Carolina and Illinois. Missouri remained too close to call as of 11 p.m.
Speaking to supporters in Florida late Tuesday, Trump expressed gratitude for his victories.
"To win the states that we won, and by the margins, and especially, look – this is my second home, Florida – to win by that kind of a number is incredible," he said.
Trump also had some kind words for Rubio.
"I want to congratulate Marco Rubio on running a really tough campaign. He's tough, he's smart, and he's got a great future – a great future," Trump said.
Trump further pointed out that despite a flurry of negative advertising, he still won handily.
"I have to say, nobody in the history of politics has received the kind of negative advertising that I have. Record, record, record. Mostly false… vicious, horrible – they say it was $18 million first week – meaning last week – and $25 million – it added up to over $40 million," Trump said. "Can you explain it to me? Because I can't – the numbers went up. I don't understand."
Trump also talked about policy plans. He said if elected president, he will prevent companies from leaving the country.
"We will someday, in the not-too-distant future, if I win… Apple and all these great companies will be making their product in the United States; not in China, Vietnam," Trump said.
He said a deal to protect American trade could be made "in 10 minutes if you knew what you're doing."
Meanwhile, by winning in his home state of Ohio, Kasich made it much tougher for Trump to secure the nomination before the Republican National Convention, CBS2's Maurice DuBois reported.
In addressing supporters in Berea, Ohio, Kasich honored Rubio's campaign in his speech, calling him "a very, very great, fine and talented United States senator."
But Kasich said he will continue his campaign. He went on to tell his supporters that his interests were for the people, and for a stronger economy.
"Forget the politics, forget all the pollsters, forget the focus groups, because you see, I represent you," Kasich said.
He added, "As I travel the country, as I look into your eyes, you want to believe – you want to believe again – that we can have job security."
Kasich called for people to stand together and resist division.
"I think we're going to rally the people in Washington, and I'm going to remind them that before we're Republicans and Democrats, we're Americans," he said.
While Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) had not won any primaries that were held Tuesday as of 11 p.m., he vowed in a speech in Houston that "tonight was a good night."
Addressing hundreds of raucous supporters at a local hotel, Cruz said that "after tonight, America now has a clear choice."
Cruz said that only he and Trump have a shot at winning the Republican nomination.
Cruz didn't name Kasich, but he said other campaigns have "no mathematical possibility whatsoever.''
A total of 165 delegates had been up for grabs between Florida and Ohio on the GOP side.
CBS News contributor Bob Schieffer spoke with DuBois Tuesday night about putting the vote Tuesday in perspective.
"If Trump winds up getting the nomination before they get to Cleveland, that's going to turn the party upside down – the Republican Party as we know it," Schieffer said. "But if that goes to that open convention, I mean, who knows what happens after that?"
On the Democratic side, Clinton was also declared the winner in North Carolina and Ohio. Voters also cast their ballots in Illinois and Missouri Tuesday.
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Her rival, Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont), had been hoping to score an upset or two like he did in Michigan. Sanders supporters packed the Auditorium Theatre in downtown Chicago for a late-night rally on Monday.
"I think that if there's a large voter turnout, we're going to do just great here in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, and hopefully North Carolina and Florida," Sanders said Tuesday.
Illinois remained too close to call late Tuesday night for the Democrats, as did Missouri.
Despite Clinton's victories Tuesday night, Sanders still seemed to be the candidate generating the enthusiasm. Schieffer said it all makes for an uncertain outcome in November.
"If you want to look ahead beyond the conventions and to the general election, I don't think you can predict who's going to win," he said.
(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
