Donald Trump celebrates 'amazing' night as he gets within reach of presidential nomination

Donald Trump may be resisting calls for him to act more like a president, but as his primary victories continue to stack up, he is getting closer to a presidential reality.

The Republican front-runner swept the five presidential primaries on Tuesday, taking him within reach of the party's nomination and dealing a big blow to rivals Ted Cruz and John Kasich. Mr Trump basked in his victories from the gilded atrium of the Trump Tower in Manhattan.

"This is a far bigger win than we even expected," Mr Trump said. "When you crack 60 (per cent of the vote) with three people, that's very hard to do."

The delegates awarded to Mr Trump in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are still being determined, but shortly after the polls closed at 8 pm it became clear that he would win big.

With a flock of cheering supporters standing behind him, Mr Trump - who came out much later than expected - delivered a speech focused on his large delegate lead.

"I'm winning it, it's over," he said, adding that he would be a much better president than Hillary Clinton, a look toward the general election. "I think she's going to be easier to beat than the 16 people I competed with recently."

The businessman was not quite at his bombastic best, continuing his toned-down rhetoric that began in his victory speech following last week's New York primary. Reports emerged during the past week that Mr Trump may not stay so civil going forward. Politico reported that Mr Trump bristled after new adviser Paul Manafort said the candidate would start acting more like a presidential candidate. But he toed the line at his victory event.

Tuesday's speech didn't hear him refer to Mr Cruz as "Lyin' Ted", though he took shots at the Texas senator, Mr Kasich and Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, who had a good showing in her party's primaries. Mr Trump again called for both his Republican rivals to drop out of the race, saying they had no path to victory.

Just days after Mr Cruz and Mr Kasich announced they would concede certain states to each other in an apparent attempt to prevent Mr Trump from gaining the delegates necessary to win the Republican nomination outright, Mr Trump looked as strong as he has all primary season. Reports have said that the Cruz-Kasich alliance was falling apart almost as soon as it began.

"In business they put you in jail for collusion," Mr Trump said about the alliance. "The Republican Party needs something much different than that."

If Mr Trump can do as well next week in Indiana's primary, he may be able to ensure he will get the delegates necessary to be the nominee. He is also projected to do well in the upcoming California primary. But on Tuesday, from a building bearing his name, he was happy to celebrate a sweep.

"When the boxer knocks out the other boxer, you don't have to wait around for a decision," Mr Trump said about the results in the primaries.

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