Republican Rubio withdraws from US presidential race

US Republican presidential candidate Senator Marco Rubio has suspended his campaign following loss to rival Donald Trump in his home state of Florida.

"While it is not God's plan that I be president in 2016 or maybe ever, and while today my campaign is suspended, the fact that I've even come this far is evidence of how special America truly is," Rubio told supporters in Florida on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, the Americans cast their ballots in Republican and Democratic primaries in five US states of Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. 

The 44-year-old Cuban-American said suspension of the campaign would be the "right way forward, but after tonight, it is clear that while we are on the right side, this year we will not be on the winning side." 

Speaking in his hometown of Miami, Rubio congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the Florida primary, saying, “It was a big win.”

He continued with slamming the political establishment, saying that after eight years of seeing US President Barack Obama in the White House, the US needs a strong Republican Party and a “vibrant conservative movement ... built on principles and ideas, not on fear.”

Trump carries all Florida delegates 

Meanwhile, billionaire real estate mogul Donald Trump won Florida with all 99 delegates, dealing a major blow to Senator Rubio.

In Florida, Trump won nearly 46 percent of the vote compared to 27 percent for Rubio and 17 percent for Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

Trump would need to win about 60 percent of the remaining delegates to get to 1,237 ones needed clinch the Republican Party's nomination.

Kasich wins Ohio 

In Ohio however, Trump was thrashed by Governor John Kasich who got nearly 45 percent of the votes and all the 66 delegates, early results showed.

Trump, Cruz and Rubio trailed Kasich with nearly 38, 15 and 3 percent respectively.

Buoyed by his Ohio victory, Kasich vowed to stay in the race for the nomination.

Clinton scores 4 wins

In the Democratic camp, Hillary Clinton earned three big wins in her quest to become the Democratic Party’s nominee, sweeping to victory in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.

In Florida, Clinton won 64 percent of the vote compared to 33 percent for Bernie Sanders, with 90 percent of precincts counted. “This was another super Tuesday for our campaign,” Clinton told cheering supporters in Florida. “Thank you, Florida, thank you, North Carolina and thank you, Ohio.”

The victories would move the former secretary of state closer to winning the 2,383 delegates she needs to win the Democratic race.

Clinton also won Illinois, where 156 delegates were at stake. Polling in the state had pointed to a tight race in the days leading up to the vote.

In Missouri with 71 delegates, early results showed Sanders was taking a close lead over Clinton with a nearly 52-percent vote.

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