Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump both scored major victories on Super Tuesday, taking giant steps toward securing the US presidential nominations of their parties.  

US voters casted their ballots across 11 states in a day-long contest known as Super Tuesday, when the greatest number of states hold primary elections to pick the Republican and Democratic White House nominees.

Trump emerged as the winner of Republican contests in Arkansas, Virginia, Georgia, Alabama, Massachusetts and Tennessee, while Clinton triumphed in Texas, Georgia, Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia, according to US media projections.

Speaking from Miami, former Secretary of State Clinton already appeared to be ready to take on New York billionaire Trump in the general election.

“It’s clear tonight that the stakes in this election have never been higher and the rhetoric we are hearing on the other side has never been lower,” she said.

“Trying to divide America between us and them is wrong and we are not going to let it work,” Clinton added.

In his comments from Florida, Trump described himself as a "unifier" and called on Republicans to rally behind his candidacy.

“Our party is expanding and all you have to do is take a look at the primary states where I’ve won,” Trump said.

“We’ve gone from one number to a much larger number. That hasn’t happened to the Republican Party in many, many decades. So I think we’re going to be more inclusive, more unified and a much bigger party and I think we’re going to win in November,” he added.

Trump's closet rival, Senator Ted Cruz, has been projected to win in two states, on a Super Tuesday that has showed the real estate mogul’s dominance over a crowded Republican field.



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] US Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz speaks at a presidential campaign rally in Dallas, Texas on February 29, 2016. (AFP photo)[/caption]



[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="555"] US Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters after winning the Vermont primary on Super Tuesday on March 1, 2016 in Essex Junction, Vermont. (AFP photo)[/caption]

Meanwhile, Clinton’s primary opponent, Bernie Sanders, won in Vermont, and is also projected to prevail in Oklahoma.

Caucuses are underway in Colorado and Minnesota, and projections show that the Vermont senator is likely to do well in both of the states.

“By the end of tonight we are going to win many hundreds of delegates,” Sanders told supporters in Essex Junction, Vermont.

“You know why we are going to win? Because our message is resonating,” he said. “The people will be victorious.”

By Press TV