Delegate math: How Clinton wraps up nomination by June 7
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hillary Clinton is closing in fast on the Democratic presidential nomination.
After losing three of four state contests in May, Clinton has maintained a lead over Bernie Sanders of 271 pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses.
The vote totals do not include Iowa, Nevada, Maine, Alaska, Washington and Wyoming — caucus states where the AP tabulated delegate equivalents, not raw votes; Sanders won four of them.
With 126 pledged delegates at stake, New Jersey offers Clinton more than what she needs to clinch — even if she were to lose the state.
WINNING A MAJORITY OF PLEDGED DELEGATES
Because of Clinton's big lead, Sanders must flip her superdelegates if he hopes to reach 2,383.
[...] in order to sway them, Sanders will have to win a majority of pledged delegates from primaries and caucuses, his senior strategist Tad Devine has acknowledged.
Superdelegates have never before lifted a candidate to the nomination when he or she trailed in the number of pledged delegates.
Many are state party chairs, vice chairs or top officials such as President Barack Obama, who are declining to publicly express a preference for now.