Biden sweeps the South, Sanders wins California

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(SOUND BITE) (English) U.S. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"It's still early, but things are looking awful, awful good."

Former Vice President Joe Biden rode a wave of what his supporters called "Joementum," winning most of the 14 states that held nominating contests on Super Tuesday, including stunning victories in Minnesota and Texas after last-minute endorsements from his former presidential contenders.

(SOUND BITE) (English) U.S. FORMER VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN, SAYING:

"We won Minnesota because of Amy Klobuchar. And we're doing well in Texas because of Beto O'Rourke."

But multiple media reports projected Senator Bernie Sanders would win the biggest prize of California, which would set up a long one-on-one battle between Sanders and Biden for the Democratic presidential nomination.

(SOUND BITE) (English) U.S. SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS, SAYING:

"One of us in this race led the opposition to the war in Iraq. You're looking at him."

Speaking in his home state of Vermont, which he won handily Tuesday night, Sanders attacked Biden's voting record.

(SOUND BITE) (English) U.S. SENATOR BERNIE SANDERS, SAYING:

"Another candidate voted for the war in Iraq."

Sanders also claimed victories in Colorado and Utah. He had been heavily favored to win in Texas, the second biggest prize on Tuesday, but Biden invested heavily in the state and in the early hours of Wednesday morning, several media organizations projected him the winner there.

The former vice president also won Massachusetts in a surprise, a big blow to Senator Elizabeth Warren in her home state. She was already looking ahead to next week's nominating contests, asking voters in Michigan - which holds its primary along with five other states on March 10 - to vote their conscience.

(SOUND BITE) (English) U.S. SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN, SAYING:

"Cast a vote that will make you proud. Cast a vote from your heart. And vote for the person you think will make the best president of the United States."

The Super Tuesday results also left billionaire Michael Bloomberg, who spent more than half a billion dollars on advertising, largely out of the running with his only victory coming in the U.S. territory of American Samoa.

(SOUND BITE) (English) FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, SAYING:

"No matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something no one thought was possible."

The former New York mayor spoke to supporters at a rally in Florida, where he maintained he would be the Democratic nominee and told the audibly conflicted crowd in West Palm Beach that he'd send President Donald Trump back to their state for good.

(SOUND BITE) (English) FORMER NEW YORK MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, SAYING:

"It means winning this winning this November and sending Donald Trump back to Mar-a-Lago permanently."

Bloomberg campaign officials said he would reassess whether to stay in the race on Wednesday, but they said that did not mean he would drop out.