
Joe Biden dramatically won Texas while people were still waiting to vote in the state in a sensational end to a Super Tuesday which upended the Democratic race making it effectively a two-horse race with the former vice president ahead of Bernie Sanders.

Sanders seized a victory in California after Biden win state after state in landslides across the nation – only for his rival to take the biggest prize of all.

Just after polls closed at 8pm PST - 11pm EST - , the state was called for Sanders, his fourth victory of the night. That left Texas in play and for hours a nail-bitingly close count played out, while huge turnout prompted long lines and polling stations were kept open to deal with backlog.

Biden's comeback left the party's rival establishment candidate's campaign for dead.

For Mike Bloomberg, a disastrous night appeared to spell the end of a campaign which has burned through $1 billion in three months, leaving him with one victory – American Samoa – to show for it.

His aides said he was discussing whether to drop out, and he tweeted an ambiguous 'thank you' to supporters saying 'we're more determined than ever to defeat Donald Trump and rebuild America,' – hardly a commitment to stay in the race.

For the two frontrunners, Sanders' win in California threatened to upend the narrative of the night being a sensational comeback for Biden.

However by the time a third of the vote was in, the state may not have been poised to deliver the kind of resounding win or delegate haul for Sanders that had been forecast.

Sanders had a strong lead, with 30 per cent of the vote, with Biden running about 10 points behind. At that point, Sanders, Biden, and Bloomberg all looked to harvest delegates out of the state.

There was a dramatic race playing out through the night in Texas, the night's second biggest prize. Biden opened up a lead over Sanders early Wednesday morning.

By the time the race was called around 2 am, he was leading Sanders by 50,000 votes, with 89 per cent reporting. Biden was at 33 percent, Sanders was at 30 per cent, and Bloomberg was at 15 per cent – just enough to earn delegates.

There were long lines in Harris County, home to Houston, where Biden was running up strong margins. As in southern states, Biden was running up big margins with the state's African American voters, but Sanders heavily targeted Latino voters in the state. Biden's margin, however was bigger.

Some voters were online for six hours, in a state that had pared back polling locations. Biden cleaned up among those who decided who to back late – winning the group 49 to 20 per cent in the state.

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe called it 'astounding,' noting that Biden didn't spend 'a penny' there, speaking on CNN.

Biden staged a dramatic rally in Dallas Monday where he secured endorsements from former presidential rivals Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and Beto O'Rourke. The former Texas lawmaker and Senate candidate then went out to Whataburger, a regional chain, for a milkshake. Bloomberg was coming in third with 17.6 per cent of the vote, trailed by Elizabeth Warren, who was born in Oklahoma.

Across the map there were signs of Biden's sudden revival. Biden dealt a humiliating blow to Warren in her home state of Massachusetts – snagging at least 28 delegates out of the state and beating her in her backyard. She vowed to stay in the race all the way to the conventions even as more centrist candidates flocked to 77-year-old former vice president. He also denied the prize to Sanders, who hails from a neighboring state. Bloomberg was born there, and had actor Michael Douglas stumping for him in Boston.

But the region where he dominated was the south, with wins stretching from Virginia to Tennessee, Arkansas, Alabama, North Carolina, and Oklahoma. Biden scored a surprise win in Minnesota.

Warren, hosting a rally in downtown Detroit, called herself 'the woman who’s going to beat Donald Trump.'

The final details of delegate distribution were yet to be determined as the night wore on. But Biden's overwhelming performance, and the collapse of Bloomberg and Warren, immediately reset the race, with the prospect that Sanders and his political 'revolution' would be up against a long slog against the Demoratic establishment-backed candidate as he was against Hillary Clinton in 2016.

Biden rushed to win after win early in the night, with Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama falling in rapid succession. He took Minnesota without spending a dime on advertising and despite being third in the polls until Amy Klobuchar dropped out on Sunday. She endorsed Biden on Monday.

'Prediction has been a terrible business and pundits have gotten it wrong over and over,' she said. 'Here’s my advice. Cast a vote that will make you proud.'

Then Sanders took some western wins in Utah and Colorado and snared the biggest state of all.

Both men claimed victory, and both said they will take the nomination.

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Bernie Sanders seized a victory in California in the last act of a dramatic Super Tuesday which saw Joe Biden win state after state in landslides across the nation – only for his rival to take the biggest prize of all

Biden rushed to win after win early in the night, with Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama falling in rapid succession. He took Minnesota without spending a dime on advertising and despite being third in the polls until Amy Klobuchar dropped out on Sunday

As Biden raced to a series of state victories, Mike Bloomberg's campaign said he plans to 'reassess' whether he should stay in the race tomorrow. His aides said his campaign chiefs were considering their next move. Dropping out would hand a huge victory to Biden and also the potential for Bloomberg's almost unlimited resources to be thrown behind him immediately

Senator Elizabeth Warren, who only holds eight delegates after the first four early primary contest states, hopes to finally place on the leaderboard in Super Tuesday with her home state of Massachusetts. As a small amount of results from the state starts to roll in, Warren is shown with about a third of the votes from the North East state

TRUMP ROASTS HIS RIVALS AND TOASTS HIS OWN SUCCESS Donald Trump skewered his critics while toasting his own successes on Twitter as results rolled in from Super Tuesday ballots across the country. The President reserved most of his ire for 'Mini' Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth 'Pocahontas' Warren, who both had poor showings in the polls. Hitting out at fellow New York billionaire Bloomberg, Trump branded him 'the biggest loser of the night, by far'. 'His “political” consultants took him for a ride,' Trump tweeted. '$700 million washed down the drain, and he got nothing for it but the nickname Mini Mike, and the complete destruction of his reputation. Way to go Mike!' Trump also took aim at Warren after she failed to win her home state of Massachusetts, landing her a distant third in the delegate stakes. 'Elizabeth "Pocahontas" Warren, other than Mini Mike, was the loser of the night. She didn’t even come close to winning her home state of Massachusetts,' he wrote. While Trump made sure to put down his rivals, he donated most of his energy to cheering his own successes - albeit while facing token opposition. As each win rolled in he tweeted out a message of thanks to his supporters, while vowing to retake the presidency in November. Advertisement

In Los Angeles, before California was called for Sanders', Biden took to the stage and cast himself the victor, regardless if Sanders took both California and Texas.

First, he mixed up his wife Jill and sister Valerie, a characteristic gaffe which has clearly done nothing to put off Democratic voters.

Biden declared: 'It's a great night and it seems to be getting even better. They don't call it Super Tuesday for nothing! It may be over for the other guy.'

Energized, coherent and not put off even by two militant vegan protesters who ran onto the stage to protest against the dairy industry, he painted himself as the one Democrat who can take on Trump.

'A lifelong Democrat, an Obama-Biden Democrat,' he said to cheers – a pointed way to contrast himself to Sanders, who is an independent senator.

Jill Biden was captured in a photograph grabbing the protester by the arm and grimacing.

It was a return in part to the early days of the race, when Biden held a strong polling lead before the first states voted and caucused. With Sanders on the rise days ago and party leaders warning the democratic socialist could seize the nomination Tuesday, forces coalesced around Biden in South Carolina. A key factor was the endorsement there of James C. Clyburn, the state's most senior African American elected official.

In Vermont, Sanders pinned his hopes on California, pivoting to a victory speech and a string of attacks on Biden.

'Tonight I tell you with absolute confidence we are going to win the Democratic nomination,' he said.

In Massachusetts, Biden's upset victory is a blow to home state senator Elizabeth Warren and neighboring Vermont senator Sanders.

Warren will still gain delegates from Massachusetts because she passed the 15 percent viability threshold with 20 percent of the vote, but failing to win your own state is almost invariably the end for presidential campaigns.

Warren has deep pockets, thanks to mostly small-dollar supporters willing to chip in, especially after debates, but she will come under massive pressure in the next few hours to get out of the race from both Biden and Sanders' camps.

Sanders in particular will want her out after she cast herself as capable of getting his ideas done.

Sanders stands to make up momentum with the huge win of California, catching up to the combined 559 delegates up for grabs in the eight states Biden picked up.

In Los Angeles, before California was called for Sanders', Biden took to the stage and cast himself the victor, regardless if Sanders took California and Texas

Energized, coherent and not put off even by two militant vegan protesters (pictured) who ran onto the stage to protest against the dairy industry, Biden painted himself as the one Democrat who can take on Trump

Biden's early lead caused a dramatic shift and left Sanders, until last week the frontrunner, clinging to the hope of doing well in California before polls closed in the nation's most populous state. Shortly after polls in California closed, he was named the winner

Biden's campaign had suggested that the key to Super Tuesday was to minimize Sanders' lead and a Virginia victory appeared to put them on the path to that goal. The sign of momentum for the former vice president came as he saw a boost in last-minute opinion polls despite having trailed Sanders in recent weeks

WARREN LOSES HER HOME STATE Elizabeth Warren's campaign for president fell flat on Super Tuesday as she was unable to win even her home state of Massachusetts. Warren lost to both Joe Biden - whose South Carolina win Saturday night restored his frontrunner status - and Bernie Sanders, who represents neighboring state Vermont. Warren was in third place with 22 per cent of the vote with 70 per cent of the votes counted. But Warren's persistance had her looking ahead, as she campaigned in Detroit, Michigan Tuesday as votes were trickling in - a state that doesn't vote until next Tuesday - and telling supporters in an email that she needed their help 'to keep up the momentum.' 'Predictions are a terrible business. Pundits have gotten it wrong over and over,' Warren told the Michigan crowd. 'Cast a vote that will make you proud. Vote from your heart. And vote for the person who you think will make the best president of the United States.' During her final rally in California Monday night, Warren dismissed the surging Biden as a same-old, same-old Washington politician. Advertisement

BLOOMBERG TO REASSESS CAMPAIGN Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg plans to reassess his campaign Wednesday after a disappointing showing in the first states to be called on Super Tuesday despite his multi-million spending blitz. Bloomberg got trounced by rival Joe Biden in southern states – and didn't snag a single delegate in Virginia despite spending millions on ads there. Although he was harvesting delegates out of Colorado and got five out of American Samoa, it was not the night the billionaire was hoping for after pouring hundreds of millions into the race. By 11 pm, the U.S. territory was his only prize, and he had yet to win a single state. NBC reported that the Bloomberg camp sees 'some of the writing on the wall.' A person close to the campaign confirmed deliberations about the way forward to the Associated Press. Bloomberg told a crowd of supporters his unlikely campaign had made remarkable gains 'no matter how many delegates we win.' He spoke after Biden racked up wins in Virginia and North Carolina, but before Biden snagged other prizes including Minnesota. Advertisement

Supporters of Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders cheer for early results at his Super Tuesday night rally in Essex Junction, Vermont

Sanders supporters cheer as they hear election results during a party held at Central Machine Works Brewery in Austin, Texas

Sanders supporters cheer as they hear election results during a watch party held at Central Machine Works Brewery in Austin, Texas - a state he eventually lost to Biden

Supporters of Bernie Sanders look over Super Tuesday election results at a campaign center in Denver, Colorado

Supporters of Democratic Presidential hopeful Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren attend a rally in Detroit

Texas, the state with the second most delegates in Super Tuesday with 228, is leaning towards Sanders, as votes filter in. With about 30 percent reporting, the progressive Vermont senator is shown with a bit under 47 percent of the vote in the deep-red state that went more than 52 percent for Donald Trump in 2016.

If Texas went to Sanders, he could close the gap between himself and Biden.

The path to the delegation in Milwaukee now runs through a mini-Super Tuesday on March 10, when Missouri, Michigan, Washington and Mississippi vote.

Sanders had appeared to be ahead in Michigan but Biden's upset in Minnesota is likely to weigh heavily there, and the combined demographic of African-Americans and disaffected blue collar voters could play to Biden's strengths.

The following Tuesday, March 17, offers another selection of massive delegate counts when Florida, Illinois and Ohio all vote, along with Arizona.

The following week, March 24, sees Georgia vote, which Biden's southern firewall should make a surefire victory.

For Sanders, the loss of momentum from a rocky Super Tuesday could be critical. In 2016 he stayed in by rallying his base and railing against an 'establishment' determined not to give him the nomination and to install an 'inevitable' candidate in Hillary Clinton.

That may be more difficult as he faces in Biden an opponent whose comeback narrative offers him some of the advantages of the underdog, and whose narrative of empathy and standing up for those who were left behind overlaps with Sanders' more radical rhetoric.

With exit polls showing that Biden picked up eight states, it suggests the string of endorsements he has garnered in the last few days from centrist party figures, including three of his former rivals, had been crucial in driving momentum.

Tulsi Gabbard, a congresswoman from Hawaii, remains in the race though has only campaigned sporadically. She did make a pitch to voters in American Samoa, where she was born, to vote for her Tuesday

People wait to vote during the presidential primary in Santa Monica, California on Super Tuesday

Voters cast their ballots in the Democratic presidential primary election at a polling place in Armstrong Elementary School o in Herndon, Virginia

Rochelle Marks, 77, votes at a polling station on Super Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California

People line up to vote at a polling station on Super Tuesday in Beverly Hills, California

Students at the University of Vermont Franklin fill out voter registration forms at a polling place on Super Tuesday in Burlington, Vermont. At the close of the polls on Tuesday night, Sanders won his home state

Voters cast their ballots at a polling location inside an elementary school in Minneapolis, Minnesota

President Trump touted his string of Republican primary victories Tuesday night, tweeting his thanks after state after state was called in his favor.

The president only had token competition - former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld - in the Super Tuesday contests and one state, Virginia, canceled its GOP primary as Trump, like most incumbent presidents, is easily expected to win his party's nomination.

The president needs 1,276 delegates to be the nominee and is expected to have more than 800 by the time the night comes to a close.

Since the last time voters went to the polls, the Democratic race has drastically changed, with three presidential hopefuls dropping out.

Following Biden's South Carolina win on Saturday night, billionaire Tom Steyer dropped out.

From there, things escalated quickly.

On Sunday, Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old openly gay former mayor of South Bend, Indiana also exited the race.

And Klobuchar exited Monday.

She and Buttigieg were in Dallas, Texas, on Monday night endorsing Biden - who also got a bonus nod from Beto O'Rourke, who ended his own presidential run on November 1.

A flurry of other mainstream Democrats announced their support for Biden too - including former Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, Rep. Veronica Escobar of Texas, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, former Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and Rep. Jennifer Wexton of Virginia, among others.

Meanwhile, Sanders continued to draw droves of supporters, including more than 24,700 to his two rallies Sunday in San Jose and then Los Angeles, California.

Biden talks with actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key as he campaigns before his evening rally on Super Tuesday in LA

Meanwhile Bernie Sanders, who was earning frontrunner status, spoke to thousands at his rallies in Super Tuesday states including one Monday night in Minneapolis. With Amy Klobuchar out, her state is up for grabs

On Monday night at a really in Los Angeles Warren pitched herself as the candidate who could split the difference between Biden and Sanders. 'Voters deserve a choice of someone with unshakeable values who can also get things done and bring all kinds of Democrats along with her,' she argued

Voters from 14 states head to the polls on 'Super Tuesday,' with about a third of Democratic delegates at stake in a single day