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McCain wins Republican nomination McCain wins Republican nomination
(10 minutes later)
John McCain has won the Republican party's nomination to run for president in November with projected poll wins in Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island and Texas.John McCain has won the Republican party's nomination to run for president in November with projected poll wins in Ohio, Vermont, Rhode Island and Texas.
His closest rival, Mike Huckabee, has dropped out of the race and pledged to support Mr McCain's candidacy.His closest rival, Mike Huckabee, has dropped out of the race and pledged to support Mr McCain's candidacy.
Democratic front-runner Barack Obama is projected to win his party's primary election in Vermont.Democratic front-runner Barack Obama is projected to win his party's primary election in Vermont.
But rival Hillary Clinton is expected to take Rhode Island, ending Mr Obama's long winning streak.But rival Hillary Clinton is expected to take Rhode Island, ending Mr Obama's long winning streak.
US networks say their contest in the larger Ohio poll is too close to call.US networks say their contest in the larger Ohio poll is too close to call.
Stand up with me, my friends, stand up and fight for America - for her strength, her ideals, and her future John McCain Q&A: 'Super Tuesday II'The battle in pictures
Democratic voters in Texas - another key state - have voted in a day-long primary and are now taking part in caucuses.Democratic voters in Texas - another key state - have voted in a day-long primary and are now taking part in caucuses.
I think Hillary will win Ohio but by a very small margin, which may not be enough to save her campaign US voter Faith Barrow-Waheed, Cleveland, Ohio class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7278501.stm">Q&A: 'Super Tuesday II' class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7277966.stm">The battle in pictures class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4409&edition=1">Send us your predictions Mr McCain's wins in all four states take him over the threshold of 1,191 delegates needed to claim the candidacy at the party's national convention in September. Mr McCain's wins in all four states take him over the threshold of 1,191 delegates needed to claim the candidacy at the party's national convention in September.
Speaking to supporters in Dallas, Texas, he said the most important part of the campaign now lay ahead, in which he must "make a respectful, determined and convincing case to the American people" to pick him over the Democratic candidate.Speaking to supporters in Dallas, Texas, he said the most important part of the campaign now lay ahead, in which he must "make a respectful, determined and convincing case to the American people" to pick him over the Democratic candidate.
Mr Huckabee said it was important to unite his party and the nationMr McCain went on to outline the challenges facing the nation, including the war in Iraq and the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taleban.Mr Huckabee said it was important to unite his party and the nationMr McCain went on to outline the challenges facing the nation, including the war in Iraq and the fight against al-Qaeda and the Taleban.
He also pledged a campaign that avoided "false promises", and appealed for voters to "stand up and fight for America, for her strength, her ideals and her future".He also pledged a campaign that avoided "false promises", and appealed for voters to "stand up and fight for America, for her strength, her ideals and her future".
He will go to the White House on Wednesday to receive the endorsement of President George W Bush.He will go to the White House on Wednesday to receive the endorsement of President George W Bush.
Speaking at a rally in Irving, Texas, Mr Huckabee said: "It's now important that we turn our attention not to what could have been or what we wanted to have been but what now must be, and that is a united party."Speaking at a rally in Irving, Texas, Mr Huckabee said: "It's now important that we turn our attention not to what could have been or what we wanted to have been but what now must be, and that is a united party."
For the Democrats, Texas is the biggest prize remaining, with 228 delegates to the nominating party convention in August up for grabs.For the Democrats, Texas is the biggest prize remaining, with 228 delegates to the nominating party convention in August up for grabs.
Voting in the Democratic polls is proportional, meaning that Mrs Clinton needs landslide victories on Tuesday and beyond to catch up with Mr Obama.Voting in the Democratic polls is proportional, meaning that Mrs Clinton needs landslide victories on Tuesday and beyond to catch up with Mr Obama.
"I feel really good about today," Mrs Clinton told voters in Houston. "I think it's going to turn out well.""I feel really good about today," Mrs Clinton told voters in Houston. "I think it's going to turn out well."
Mrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White House Clinton's campaign ad She added: "You don't get to the White House as a Democrat without winning Ohio."Mrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White House Clinton's campaign ad She added: "You don't get to the White House as a Democrat without winning Ohio."
Between the nationwide Super Tuesday contests on 5 February and the 4 March polls, Mr Obama won 11 contests in succession and leads Mrs Clinton in the delegate count.Between the nationwide Super Tuesday contests on 5 February and the 4 March polls, Mr Obama won 11 contests in succession and leads Mrs Clinton in the delegate count.
Mr Obama seemed confident that he would win in the end.Mr Obama seemed confident that he would win in the end.
"We've got a very sizeable delegate lead that is going to be hard to overcome," he told reporters travelling with him."We've got a very sizeable delegate lead that is going to be hard to overcome," he told reporters travelling with him.
"You'll recall that when we were running those 11 races in a row the theory was they had to blow us out in Texas and Ohio. I don't think that's going to happen.""You'll recall that when we were running those 11 races in a row the theory was they had to blow us out in Texas and Ohio. I don't think that's going to happen."
Mr Obama has spent twice as much as Mrs Clinton on TV adverts in the state, including a number in Spanish.Mr Obama has spent twice as much as Mrs Clinton on TV adverts in the state, including a number in Spanish.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton14 states, 1,276 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee
Barack Obama24 states, 1,397 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates)Q&A: US election delegates

Republicans

Mike Huckabee8 states, 257 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain20 states, 1094 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin
Mitt Romney11 states, 255 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)

Democrats

Hillary Clinton14 states, 1,276 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee
Barack Obama24 states, 1,397 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates)Q&A: US election delegates

Republicans

Mike Huckabee8 states, 257 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain20 states, 1094 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin
Mitt Romney11 states, 255 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)
According to exit polls for the Associated Press news agency, Hispanics cast nearly a third of the election day votes in Texas - up from a quarter in 2004. In previous contests this year, they have favoured Mrs Clinton.According to exit polls for the Associated Press news agency, Hispanics cast nearly a third of the election day votes in Texas - up from a quarter in 2004. In previous contests this year, they have favoured Mrs Clinton.
African-American voters - who have heavily supported Mr Obama - accounted for about 20% of the votes cast in Texas, the AP said, about the same as four years ago.African-American voters - who have heavily supported Mr Obama - accounted for about 20% of the votes cast in Texas, the AP said, about the same as four years ago.
The economy was the most important issue for Democratic voters in all four states, especially Ohio, according to exit polls.The economy was the most important issue for Democratic voters in all four states, especially Ohio, according to exit polls.
Those polls also suggested Mrs Clinton was doing well among white, blue-collar and older voters in Ohio, which may indicate she has halted Mr Obama's advance into those groups, her core base until recent contests.Those polls also suggested Mrs Clinton was doing well among white, blue-collar and older voters in Ohio, which may indicate she has halted Mr Obama's advance into those groups, her core base until recent contests.
For the Democrats, a total of 370 delegates are at stake in the four races, including 67 in Texas's caucuses, which were due to begin after the day-long primary vote.For the Democrats, a total of 370 delegates are at stake in the four races, including 67 in Texas's caucuses, which were due to begin after the day-long primary vote.
Mr Obama had 1,386 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,276 going into Tuesday's contests, the AP calculated. A total of 2,025 is needed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination.Mr Obama had 1,386 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,276 going into Tuesday's contests, the AP calculated. A total of 2,025 is needed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination.
Barack Obama denied "political positioning" over free tradeThe New York senator and former first lady has played down suggestions she is facing a make-or-break moment.Barack Obama denied "political positioning" over free tradeThe New York senator and former first lady has played down suggestions she is facing a make-or-break moment.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Ohio's state capital, Columbus, says the struggle between the two senators remains fierce and close, and it is far from certain that America will get the clear outcome from these latest battles that it craves.The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Ohio's state capital, Columbus, says the struggle between the two senators remains fierce and close, and it is far from certain that America will get the clear outcome from these latest battles that it craves.
Mrs Clinton has focused her attacks on Mr Obama's foreign policy and national security experience, echoing a campaign advert asking who would respond better to a national emergency in the middle of the night.Mrs Clinton has focused her attacks on Mr Obama's foreign policy and national security experience, echoing a campaign advert asking who would respond better to a national emergency in the middle of the night.
Mr Obama, senator for Illinois, has countered that with an advert questioning Mrs Clinton's judgement in supporting the invasion of Iraq from the start.Mr Obama, senator for Illinois, has countered that with an advert questioning Mrs Clinton's judgement in supporting the invasion of Iraq from the start.