America never stopped being great: Clinton takes on Trump

Gearing up for a likely clash with Donald Trump for US presidency, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton today attacked the controversial Republican front-runner's campaign slogan of 'Making America Great Again', saying the country never stopped being great.

"We know we've got work to do. But, that work, that work is not to make America great again. America never stopped being great. We have to make America whole. We have to fill in what's been hollowed out," a confident Clinton said in her victory speech in Florida after winning big in the multi-state 'Super Tuesday' primaries.

Clinton won in seven states -- Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts and Virginia -- while her rival Bernie Sanders posted victories in four states of Vermont, Oklahoma, Colorado and Minnesota.

"We have to make strong the broken places, re-stitch the bonds of trust and respect across our country," Clinton said.

"Now it might be unusual, as I've said before, for a presidential candidate to say this, but I'm going to keep saying it, 'I believe what we need in America today is more love and kindness," the 68-year-old said amidst applause from her supporters.

"Because you know what? It works. Instead of building walls we're going to break down barriers and build ladders of opportunity and empowerment so every American can live up to his or her potential, because then and only then can America live up to its full potential too," Clinton said in an apparent jibe at Trump who has said he will build a wall on the Mexico border if he becomes President.

69-year-old Trump also won at least six of the 11 state primaries of the Republican party as the possibility of a November presidential election showdown between him and Clinton seemed likely.

"Now it's clear tonight that the stakes in this election have never been higher. And the rhetoric we're hearing on the other side has never been lower. Trying to divide America between us and them is wrong, and we're not going to let it work," Clinton said in another jibe at Trump.

Sanders said he would continue his fight to rest of the states. "At the end of tonight, 15 states will have voted, 35 states remain. And let me assure you that we are going to take our fight for economic justice, for social justice, for environmental sanity, for a world of peace to every one of those states," he said.

This campaign, Sanders stated, is not just about electing the president, it is about transforming America.

"It is about making our great country the nation that we know it has the potential to be. It is about dealing with some unpleasant truths that exist in America today and having the guts to confront those truths," Sanders said.

"It is about recognising that in our state, we have town meetings and people come out, they argue about budgets, and then they vote. One person, one vote," he said.

Sanders said his campaign is about making a political revolution. "What that revolution is about is bringing millions of millions of people into the political process. Working people who have been so disillusioned, they no longer vote. Young people who have never been involved," he said.

"What the political revolution is about is bringing our people together. Black and white, Latino, Asian-American. Gay and straight. People born in America, people who have immigrated to America. When we bring our people together, when we do not allow the Donald Trumps of the world to divide us up," Sanders said.

"When we bring our people together and when we have the courage to stand up to the billionaire class and tell them they can't have it all," he added.