Former US Vice President Joe Biden won the Florida, Illinois and Arizona Democratic primaries on Tuesday, multiple networks projected. According to CBS News , the delegate allocation at poll closing in Florida is 100 for Biden and 27 for his main rival, US Senator Bernie Sanders. The Associated Press called the Illinois race for Biden shortly before 8:30 p.m. EDT. NBC News called the Arizona race for the former Vice President shortly after 11:00 p.m. EDT. Florida is the biggest prize of the day with 219 delegates up for grabs. Illinois has 155 delegates to award. Biden spoke to supporters later on Tuesday night, welcoming his primary wins in Florida and Illinois by praising Sanders and explicitly reaching out to the Vermont senator's youthful supporters. “To the young voters” who have gravitated toward Sanders, Biden said, “I hear you, I know what’s at stake.” “Senator Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision,” Biden continued, before listing off several policy priorities he said he shared with Sanders, including “affordable health care” and “tackling the existential challenge of climate change.” In relation to the coronavirus pandemic, Biden said it was “important for us to get through this crisis protecting both the public’s health and our democracy.” “Tackling this national epidemic is a national emergency akin to fighting a war,” he added. A CNN poll found that voters over the age of 65, moderates and black voters carried Biden to his projected primary win in Florida. Those voting groups supported Biden in high numbers, with more than three-quarters in each backing the former Vice President in the primary fight against Sanders. Sunshine State voters who said they preferred a candidate who would unite the country, those who oppose a single payer health care system and voters who want a nominee that can beat Trump also supported Biden on Tuesday. Primaries were also held on Tuesday in Arizona. Ohio was to have held primaries as well, but Governor Mike DeWine announced late Monday night that the state will not be holding primaries as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Biden won in five out of six states that voted last Tuesday.
