Bernie Sanders beats Hillary Clinton in three caucuses

US Democratic presidential contender Bernie Sanders easily won nominating contests in Alaska, Hawaii, and Washington, chipping away at front-runner Hillary Clinton’s commanding lead in the race to pick the party’s candidate for the White House.

Mr Sanders still faces a steep climb to overtake Mrs Clinton but the big victories in the West generated more momentum for his upstart campaign and could stave off calls from Democratic leaders that he should wrap up his bid in the name of party unity.

Mr Sanders appeared headed to victory margins of more than 50 percentage points in Alaska and Washington, and led by about 40 points in Hawaii with some 90% of the results tallied there. “We are making significant inroads in Secretary Clinton’s lead and... we have a path to victory,” Mr Sanders told cheering supporters in Madison, Wisconsin. “It is hard for anybody to deny that our campaign has the momentum.”