Donald Trump can win nomination with gains in Florida, Ohio

Donald Trump can take a giant step on Tuesday toward securing the Republican presidential nomination with wins in Florida and Ohio primaries that would intensify the pressure on Republicans fighting to derail him.

Mr Trump has the potential for a sweep in five big states holding nominating contests for the November 8 election — Florida,Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Missouri. He could potentially knock out two of his rivals, Ohio governor John Kasich and US Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, if he wins their states.

At a rally in Youngstown, Ohio, on Monday night, Mr Trump urged his followers to get out and vote for him. He planned a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday night.

“You’re going to be so happy. You’re going to remember this evening. You’re going to say it was the single greatest vote that you ever cast,” he said.

Mr Trump has a significant lead over Mr Rubio in opinion polls in Florida, but is neck and neck with Mr Kasich in Ohio. Any win by either Mr Rubio, Mr Kasich or US Senator Ted Cruz of Texas would give at least a small degree of hope to Republicans battling to deny Mr Trump the nomination.

But Mr Trump victories in those states could make what once seemed inconceivable a virtual reality.