DHAKA: Bernie Sanders has won two more US states in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, as he tries to close the gap on Hillary Clinton.

Senator Sanders took the biggest prize of the day, Washington state, and Alaska. Hawaii also went to the polls.

Sanders was projected to have won 72% of the vote in Washington against 27% for Clinton.

And US TV networks gave him about 79% of the vote in Alaska, against 21% for Clinton.

Results are yet to emerge from Hawaii but initial projections suggest another Bernie Sanders victory, reports the BBC.

Washington was the most significant of the three states voting on Saturday, with 101 delegates up for grabs. There were 16 delegates on offer in Alaska and 25 in Hawaii.

In spite of his victories, Sanders faces a struggle to overhaul Clinton’s overall lead. Going into Saturday’s votes, Clinton led Sanders by 1,223 delegates to 920.

When superdelegates - party officials who can support either candidates - who have so far declared their allegiance are included, Clinton was ahead by 1,692 to 949.

It takes 2,383 delegates to win.

BDST: 1259 HRS, MAR 27, 2016
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