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Hillary Clinton has the delegates to win: analysis

Hillary Clinton has reached the number of delegates needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, the Associated Press says, putting her on course to become the first woman to head a major US party ticket.

Hillary Clinton campaigning in Los Angeles this week. Photo: EPA/Paul Buck

Hillary Clinton campaigning in Los Angeles this week. Photo: EPA/Paul Buck

Clinton, a former secretary of state, reached the 2383 delegates needed to become the presumptive Democratic nominee with a decisive weekend victory in Puerto Rico and a burst of last-minute support from superdelegates, the AP reports.

Clinton has 1812 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses. She also has the support of 571 superdelegates, according to an AP count.

The Democratic Party holds its convention in Philadelphia in July to formally choose its nominee for the November 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Clinton’s top campaign aide said the AP’s call in the Democratic Party’s presidential primary is an “important milestone”.

Campaign manager Robby Mook said Clinton was still looking ahead to six states voting on Tuesday, including New Jersey and California.

He said Clinton “is working to earn every vote” and clinch the majority of pledged delegates up for grabs in the Democratic nominating process.

Her rival, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders’ campaign said Clinton’s nomination as the Democratic Party’s presidential pick was dependent on superdelegates who can still change their minds between now and the July convention.

Sanders’ spokesman Michael Briggs said the campaign’s job was to convince the superdelegates – party insiders – that the Vermont senator was “by far the strongest candidate against Donald Trump”.

He said calling the Democratic contest before superdelegates formally vote at the convention was a “rush to judgment”.

AAP

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