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Bush to endorse McCain in US race Bush to endorse McCain in US race
(30 minutes later)
US President George W Bush is set to back John McCain's White House bid after the Vietnam veteran sealed the Republican nomination on Tuesday.US President George W Bush is set to back John McCain's White House bid after the Vietnam veteran sealed the Republican nomination on Tuesday.
Mr McCain, 71, has arrived for lunch at the White House, where he will be endorsed by his one-time rival.Mr McCain, 71, has arrived for lunch at the White House, where he will be endorsed by his one-time rival.
Tuesday's voting in four states also delivered three victories for Hillary Clinton, reviving her flagging campaign for the Democratic ticket.Tuesday's voting in four states also delivered three victories for Hillary Clinton, reviving her flagging campaign for the Democratic ticket.
She hailed her wins as proof she was the party's strongest candidate.She hailed her wins as proof she was the party's strongest candidate.
DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE RACE BARACK OBAMA: 1,477 Delegates won on 4 March: 91 States won: 24 HILLARY CLINTON: 1,391 Delegates won on 4 March: 115States won: 16 Delegates needed to secure nomination: 2,025. Source: AP Delegates: Who's aheadQ&A: What next? But her rival Barack Obama, who won in Vermont, said he had an "insurmountable lead" and was "very confident".DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE RACE BARACK OBAMA: 1,477 Delegates won on 4 March: 91 States won: 24 HILLARY CLINTON: 1,391 Delegates won on 4 March: 115States won: 16 Delegates needed to secure nomination: 2,025. Source: AP Delegates: Who's aheadQ&A: What next? But her rival Barack Obama, who won in Vermont, said he had an "insurmountable lead" and was "very confident".
Mrs Clinton still trails Mr Obama in the battle for the all-important delegates who will seal the nomination at the Democratic party convention in August.Mrs Clinton still trails Mr Obama in the battle for the all-important delegates who will seal the nomination at the Democratic party convention in August.
But her wins - 54% of the vote to Mr Obama's 44% in Ohio, and by 51% to 47% in Texas, as well as victory in the smaller prize of Rhode Island - are being seen as a huge psychological boost for her campaign.But her wins - 54% of the vote to Mr Obama's 44% in Ohio, and by 51% to 47% in Texas, as well as victory in the smaller prize of Rhode Island - are being seen as a huge psychological boost for her campaign.
ComebackComeback
Mr McCain was expected to appear in the White House Rose Garden with the US president - who defeated him in the 2000 Republican primaries. President Bush shook hands with Mr McCain and kissed his wife Cindy on the cheek as the pair arrived at the presidential residence.
Mrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White House Clinton's speech "He's going to win," said Mr Bush, who is due to appear in the White House Rose Garden alongside the man he defeated in the 2000 Republican primaries.
Mr McCain, who had been comfortably ahead, clinched the Republican nomination on Tuesday with wins in all the four states.Mr McCain, who had been comfortably ahead, clinched the Republican nomination on Tuesday with wins in all the four states.
Mrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White House Clinton's speech The delegates gained took him over the threshold of 1,191 he needed to claim the nomination at the party's national convention in September.
His closest rival, Mike Huckabee, dropped out of the race and pledged to support Mr McCain's candidacy.
Mr McCain's path to the Republican nomination represents a remarkable comeback after his campaign was all but written off following setbacks last summer.Mr McCain's path to the Republican nomination represents a remarkable comeback after his campaign was all but written off following setbacks last summer.
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 in November. Speaking to supporters in Dallas, Texas, after his win, he said he must "make a respectful, determined and convincing case to the American people" to pick him over the Democratic candidate in November.
Mr McCain 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".Mr McCain 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".
Joint ticket?Joint ticket?
In the Democratic race, the two contenders vied on Wednesday to present themselves as the candidate best equipped to take on Mr McCain.In the Democratic race, the two contenders vied on Wednesday to present themselves as the candidate best equipped to take on Mr McCain.
"I think last night I proved that I'm the person most likely to win for the Democrats," Mrs Clinton said on Fox News."I think last night I proved that I'm the person most likely to win for the Democrats," Mrs Clinton said on Fox News.
NEXT DEMOCRATIC VOTES 8 March: Wyoming caucus, 12 pledged delegates11 March: Mississippi primary, 33 pledged delegates22 April: Pennsylvania primary, 158 pledged delegates6 May: Indiana primary, 72 delegates; North Carolina primary, 115 pledged delegates In quotes: Reaction to votesUS media reactionWho won it for Hillary Asked on CBS's Early Show about the possibility of a joint ticket with Mr Obama, she said: "Well, that may, you know, be where this is headed.NEXT DEMOCRATIC VOTES 8 March: Wyoming caucus, 12 pledged delegates11 March: Mississippi primary, 33 pledged delegates22 April: Pennsylvania primary, 158 pledged delegates6 May: Indiana primary, 72 delegates; North Carolina primary, 115 pledged delegates In quotes: Reaction to votesUS media reactionWho won it for Hillary Asked on CBS's Early Show about the possibility of a joint ticket with Mr Obama, she said: "Well, that may, you know, be where this is headed.
"But of course, we have to decide who's on the top of the ticket, and I think that the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me.""But of course, we have to decide who's on the top of the ticket, and I think that the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."
Mr Obama, who had won 11 contests in succession in the month before the 4 March polls, said: "We are steadily building a lead and I think we're going to win this thing... I think it is going to be hard for us not to be the nominee." Mr Obama, who had won 11 contests in succession in the month before the 4 March polls, said it was "very premature to start talking about a joint ticket".
He pointed out that Mrs Clinton had "barely dented" the delegate count, despite her wins. "We are steadily building a lead and I think we're going to win this thing... I think it is going to be hard for us not to be the nominee," he said in an interview with MSNBC.
He also pointed out that Mrs Clinton had "barely dented" the delegate count, despite her wins.
HAVE YOUR SAY Hillary received a boost from the cross-over vote - Republicans voted for her because she is more beatable in the general election Zach Doty, Waco, Texas, USA Send us your commentsIn total, according to the Associated Press, Mrs Clinton still trails Mr Obama with 1,391 delegates to his 1,477.HAVE YOUR SAY Hillary received a boost from the cross-over vote - Republicans voted for her because she is more beatable in the general election Zach Doty, Waco, Texas, USA Send us your commentsIn total, according to the Associated Press, Mrs Clinton still trails Mr Obama with 1,391 delegates to his 1,477.
But the results from the Texas caucuses - meetings at which voters gather to indicate their support for their chosen candidate - have not been finalised, so the final delegate count is not yet known.But the results from the Texas caucuses - meetings at which voters gather to indicate their support for their chosen candidate - have not been finalised, so the final delegate count is not yet known.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the next major battle is the Pennsylvania primary on 22 April.BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the next major battle is the Pennsylvania primary on 22 April.
If Mr Obama wins, Mrs Clinton may well be finished, he says, but if she wins, the race will go to the wire.If Mr Obama wins, Mrs Clinton may well be finished, he says, but if she wins, the race will go to the wire.
Correspondents say the race could continue right up until the party convention and be decided by the votes of party officials known as super-delegates who can choose for themselves which candidate to back.Correspondents say the race could continue right up until the party convention and be decided by the votes of party officials known as super-delegates who can choose for themselves which candidate to back.