WASHINGTON, Mar 3 : Donald Trump's triumphal march toward the Republican presidential nomination left his party in disarray on Wednesday, as Democrats coalesced around their White House frontrunner Hillary Clinton after her slew of Super Tuesday victories.
Both candidates emerged the clear winners on Tuesday after several party nominating contests, piling up delegates on the biggest, most pivotal day of primaries in the race to succeed President Barack Obama.
Trump was victorious in seven of 11 states, weakening but not eliminating his top rivals Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both US senators.
Hillary equalled Trump's score with wins in seven states against Senator Bernie Sanders, absorbing a formidable challenge from the left.
But whereas Hillary appeared to solidify her support ahead of the next key round of primaries March 15, divisions among Republicans deepened over Trump's success with a slashing campaign that has galvanized disaffected voters but opened wounds on racial, ethnic and gender fronts.
With the 69-year-old
billionaire powering
past their favoured candidates, Republican stalwarts have raised the possibility of the party splintering if Trump wins the nomination.     ?AFP