US election 2016: Bernie Sanders gains on Hillary Clinton with Maine Democratic caucus win

Coming off two wins on Super Saturday, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders added another victory on 6 March in Maine. The self-described Democratic socialist readily beat rival Hillary Clinton, earning the bulk of the state's 25 delegates.

With 83% of precincts reporting, Sanders won Maine 64.3% to Clinton's 35.5%. The Vermont senator took home 14 delegates, while the former New York senator received six delegates. The win in Maine, which brought an "extraordinary turnout" by voters, was somewhat expected following Sanders' victories in neighbouring New Hampshire and Vermont.

According to Across America Patch, Maine has an additional five super delegates at stake. Three have already pledged their support to Clinton and one has given their support to Sanders. The fifth super delegate, Maine Democratic Party Chairman Phil Barlett, on the other hand, said he would not publicly support a candidate prior to the caucus.

On Super Saturday, Sanders took first place at the Kansas caucus, beating Clinton 67.7% to 32.3%. He also won at the Nebraska caucus, 57.1% to 42.9%. The combined wins earned him 38 delegates to Clinton's 20. Despite losing badly to the former secretary of state in the Louisiana primary, 71.15% to 23.2%, Sanders still managed to take 14 delegates from The Pelican State. Clinton took home 37 delegates from Louisiana.

Sanders' victory in Maine arrived as the two remaining Democratic candidates faced off in their first debate following Super Tuesday. The debate, hosted by CNN from Flint, Michigan, focused on a number of issues, including the water crisis in the predominately black and poor community. The two candidates have two primaries on 8 March—Michigan and Mississippi—and five primaries on 15 March—Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio.

According to POLITICO, Clinton has 1,130 delegates and Sanders has 499. They need 2,383 delegates to win the Democratic presidential nomination.