US Presidential election 2016: Hillary Clinton secures Democratic Party nomination
Hillary Clinton has enough delegates to secure the Democractic Party's nomination for the 2016 US presidential election, according to the Associated Press.
Clinton has won the support of 2,384 delegates according to the news agency's calculations – one more than she needs to win nomination at the party's national convention at the end of July.
The tally includes the backing of at least 572 superdelegates, who are not obliged to support either candidate, but have indicated they intend to vote for Clinton. Bernie Sanders, Clinton's only remaining opponent, however, said it was too early to call the nomination, given that those superdelegates could still change their mind.
The former first lady also distanced herself from the prediction, as she worried it could knock turnout in the crucial Democratic primary taking place in California today.
In total there are 714 pledged delegates – those who have to give their vote to the candidate which wins their state's primary – up for grabs in six Democratic primary contests today.
The majority – 475 – are available in California, while voters in New Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana will also head to the polls.
With Clinton the front runner in the Golden State, even without the backing of the superdelegates, she would likely scoop the nomination after today's votes, becoming the first female candidate from either of the two major parties.
We’re flattered, @AP, but we've got primaries to win. CA, MT, NM, ND, NJ, SD, vote tomorrow! https://t.co/8t3GpZqc1U
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 7, 2016
Clinton has been the frontrunner ever since she lost out to Barack Obama back in 2008 but has been forced to campaign until the end due to the surprisingly resilient support for her rival Sanders.
Donald Trump is already the Republican Party's presumptive nominee after winning the backing of enough delegates two weeks ago. In his latest controversy, the billionaire tycoon said he was not convinced he would receive a fair trial from a Muslim judge.