Joe Biden has taken a big step towards becoming the man who will face Donald Trump for the White House later this year.
The former US Vice President has won nine states in a dramatic Super Tuesday to put himself in pole position to become the Democratic Candidate.
He swept to victory in Alabama, Arkansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Virginia.
He is projected to win a major upset victory in Texas – where there are 228 delegates up for grabs.
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders at a campaign rally in Los Angeles, 01-03-2020. Image: Ronen Tivony/Sipa USAMr Sanders is on course to win four States, including the biggest prize of California – where there are 415 delegates up for grabs.
Officials said Maine is still too close to call.
“For those who have been knocked down, counted out, left behind, this is your campaign," said Mr Biden.
“We are very much alive.”
Until a week ago, he had trailed Senator Sanders – who remained upbeat despite the Super Tuesday results.
“We're going to win the Democratic nomination and we are going to defeat the most dangerous president in the history of this country,” he said.
Mr Sanders also won Colorado, Utah and his home state of Vermont.
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks at a campaign rally in Los Angeles, 01-03-2020. Image: Ronen Tivony/Sipa USAFourteen states and the US territory of American Samoa were voting to decide who will run against Donald Trump in the presidential election in November.
It was a disappointing night for Michael Bloomberg, one of America's richest men and a late entrant in the race, whose sole victory was in the territory of American Samoa.
Meanwhile, Senator Elizabeth Warren was defeated in her home state of Massachusetts by Mr Biden.
Speaking in Los Angeles, Mr Biden played on one of his rival's lines, telling his supporters: “People are talking about a revolution. We started a movement.”
Back in Burlington, Vermont, Senator Sanders swiped back: “You cannot beat Trump with the same-old, same-old kind of politics.”
A total of 1,344 delegates to the Democratic Convention in July were up for grabs on Super Tuesday.
A candidate needs to secure at least 1,991 to secure the party's nomination.
Additional reporting from IRN ...
