Biden scores big wins in Michigan, three other states

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Former Vice President Joe Biden solidified his place as frontrunner in the fight for the Democratic presidential nomination...

(SOUND BITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"It looks like we're going to have another good night."

...with projected wins in most of the six states that held nominating contests on Tuesday, when voters got to pick their candidate to face President Donald Trump in November.

(SOUND BITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"Tonight, we are a step closer to restoring decency, dignity and honor to the White House. That's our ultimate goal."

Biden's victory in the crucial state of Michigan, the biggest delegate prize of the night, dealt a crushing blow to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who had hoped for an upset in Michigan to keep his White House bid alive.

Speaking in Philadelphia, Biden thanked Sanders and made an appeal for party unity.

(SOUND BITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"And I want to thank Bernie Sanders and his supporters for their tireless energy and their passion. We share a common goal and together we'll defeat Donald Trump. We'll defeat him together."

Sanders, who returned home to Vermont on Tuesday after spending much of the past few days in Michigan, did not make a public statement Tuesday night.

But one of the senator's most influential supporters did speak: progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who acknowledged the depth of his defeat on an Instagram live video.

(SOUND BITE) (English) U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, SAYING:

"You know, there's no sugar coating it. Tonight's a tough night. Tonight's a tough night for the movement overall."

The loss for Sanders in Michigan, a state he won against Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, increases pressure on him to exit the race.

Michigan is a crucial battleground that Trump narrowly and unexpectedly won in 2016. Biden, in his Tuesday night speech, said a second term for Trump was not an option.

(SOUND BITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"I believe this nation can overcome four years of Donald Trump. But given eight, four more years, he'll forever and fundamentally change the very character of this nation. We can't let that happen."

Voters in the six states that voted on Tuesday said they trusted Biden more to handle a major crisis over Sanders, according to exit polls by Edison Research, a possible sign the coronavirus outbreak helped increase Biden's appeal as a steady and experienced hand - traits he highlighted in his speech.

(SOUND BITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"This is a matter... this whole coronavirus issue is a matter of presidential leadership... and at this moment when there is so much fear in the country, and so much fear across the world, we need American leadership. We need presidential leadership that's honest, trusted, truthful and steady."

Both Biden and Sanders called off planned rallies in Cleveland earlier on Tuesday because of concerns over the coronavirus, which continues to spread.