News

Trump adds Virgin Islands delegates; nomination within reach

Posted May 23, 2016 7:00 am

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER

WASHINGTON (AP) - Donald Trump has added eight delegates from the U.S. Virgin Islands, pulling him within 68 delegates of clinching the Republican nomination for president.

John Canegata (can-eh-GAH-ta) is a Trump delegate. He is also chairman of the U.S. territory's Republican Party.

Canegata says eight of the territory's nine delegates have pledged to support Trump. The last one is uncommitted.

There is a dispute over which Republican delegates from the Virgin Islands will be sent to the national convention. Six delegates elected at the territorial convention in March were disqualified.

If the disqualified delegates press their case, the matter could ultimately be decided by the credentials committee at the national convention.

Trump now has 1,169 delegates. It takes 1,237 to win the GOP nomination.

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