Unstoppable Trump forces Marco Rubio out of US presidential race

Donald Trump is steamrolling his way toward the Republican nomination for the upcoming November presidential elections. The real estate giant won three of the five primaries held on Tuesday night, including Florida. The latter state gave him a significant number of delegates and dealt a final blow to home Senator Marco Rubio, the candidate Republican leaders trusted could stop the rise of the reality TV star. The young senator came in second in Florida and in last place in Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina and Illinois.

America’s in the middle of a real political storm

Marco Rubio

The Florida primary results confirm what the polls have been saying for months, and they destroyed the hopes of Republicans who are watching with horror as Trump – an outsider to politics who once supported Democrats, and mixes radical right-wing speech with more liberal ideals – steadily moves toward the nomination. Trump, a New York businessman who has revolutionized American politics in the last few months with his vituperative remarks against immigrants – especially Mexicans – and who has been able to capitalize on the discontent of millions of Americans, has managed a crushing defeat that barely leaves the Republican Party any other alternatives.

As expected, Marco Rubio immediately announced his departure from the presidential race. The young Cuban-American senator delivered a moving speech, during which he congratulated Trump on his victory while his supporters in the audience booed.

“America’s in the middle of a real political storm... people are angry and people are really frustrated,” he said.

The young Cuban-American senator delivered a moving speech, during which he congratulated Trump on his victory while his supporters in the audience booed.

The Florida senator was the hope of the party, the man they believed would stop Trump once Jeb Bush, the son of former President George H. W. Bush and brother of former President George W. Bush, dropped out.

Three contestants remain in the Republican race: Trump, Texas Senator Ted Cruz – whom some Republican leaders find too intransigent – and the moderate well-liked Ohio Governor John Kasich. Kasich’s victory in his home state on Tuesday night makes him the party’s newest and last alternative to Trump.

Republican leaders are hoping the New York businessman will fail to gather the delegates needed – 1,237 – to snatch up the Republican nomination. It’s a dwindling hope, however, and one they may find difficult to keep alive if he continues to “win, win, win and not stop” as he promised in his victory speech on Tuesday night.

English version by Dyane Jean François.