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| Democrats face pressure to unite | Democrats face pressure to unite |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| US Democrats face a struggle to keep their party united as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue their battle to be the chosen presidential nominee. | US Democrats face a struggle to keep their party united as Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue their battle to be the chosen presidential nominee. |
| Mrs Clinton's campaign was revived when she won key primary votes on Tuesday, but Mr Obama still holds a slight lead. | Mrs Clinton's campaign was revived when she won key primary votes on Tuesday, but Mr Obama still holds a slight lead. |
| With the race so tight, pressure is building for Michigan and Florida - who were stripped of votes after they broke party rules - to hold fresh primaries. | With the race so tight, pressure is building for Michigan and Florida - who were stripped of votes after they broke party rules - to hold fresh primaries. |
| Party head Howard Dean has urged state party officials to present a new plan. | Party head Howard Dean has urged state party officials to present a new plan. |
| Speaking on US network CNN, he also warned that the tone of the campaign "may get nastier" and said discussions would take place to try to prevent that happening. | Speaking on US network CNN, he also warned that the tone of the campaign "may get nastier" and said discussions would take place to try to prevent that happening. |
| With the numbers so close, the debate over what should happen in Michigan and Florida may become heated. | With the numbers so close, the debate over what should happen in Michigan and Florida may become heated. |
| Both states were told their delegates would not be seated at the party's August national convention - meaning they cannot vote on who should be the Democratic presidential candidate - after they breached party rules by holding primaries before 5 February. | Both states were told their delegates would not be seated at the party's August national convention - meaning they cannot vote on who should be the Democratic presidential candidate - after they breached party rules by holding primaries before 5 February. |
| According to the Associated Press news agency, Mr Obama had 1,567 delegates and Mrs Clinton 1,462, as of Wednesday. It takes 2,025 to secure the party's nomination. | According to the Associated Press news agency, Mr Obama had 1,567 delegates and Mrs Clinton 1,462, as of Wednesday. It takes 2,025 to secure the party's nomination. |
| 'Voices silenced' | 'Voices silenced' |
| State Democratic Party officials who had previously insisted the original results in Florida and Michigan should stand have now indicated they may be willing to hold new contests. | State Democratic Party officials who had previously insisted the original results in Florida and Michigan should stand have now indicated they may be willing to hold new contests. |
| DEMOCRATIC DELEGATE RACE BARACK OBAMA: 1,567 Delegates won on 4 March: 173States won: 24 HILLARY CLINTON: 1,462 Delegates won on 4 March: 185States won: 16 Delegates needed to secure nomination: 2,025. Source: AP at 0530 GMT Delegates: Who's aheadQ: What next? class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7282227.stm">Dirty dogfight | |
| Florida's Republican Governor Charlie Crist and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat backing Mrs Clinton, added to the pressure with a joint statement on Wednesday. | Florida's Republican Governor Charlie Crist and Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat backing Mrs Clinton, added to the pressure with a joint statement on Wednesday. |
| "We must restore the rights of the more than 5m voters whose voices have been silenced," they said. | "We must restore the rights of the more than 5m voters whose voices have been silenced," they said. |
| Aides to Mrs Clinton - who won the popular vote in both states, although Mr Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan - would also be open to the idea of repeated ballots. | Aides to Mrs Clinton - who won the popular vote in both states, although Mr Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan - would also be open to the idea of repeated ballots. |
| Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said: "Given the results of the primaries that were held there, we would feel good about our prospects in those states." | Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said: "Given the results of the primaries that were held there, we would feel good about our prospects in those states." |
| He warned that not representing primary voters there could disadvantage the party in November's general election. | He warned that not representing primary voters there could disadvantage the party in November's general election. |
| One stumbling block is how new primaries would be paid for, with Mr Dean stressing that the national party needed to keep its funds for fighting the general election campaign. | One stumbling block is how new primaries would be paid for, with Mr Dean stressing that the national party needed to keep its funds for fighting the general election campaign. |
| Mr Obama's team has previously opposed suggestions from Mrs Clinton's camp that the delegates from the two states should be awarded according to the ballots already held. | Mr Obama's team has previously opposed suggestions from Mrs Clinton's camp that the delegates from the two states should be awarded according to the ballots already held. |
| Breathing space | Breathing space |
| Meanwhile, Republican candidate John McCain was making appearances in Florida and Georgia on Thursday. | Meanwhile, Republican candidate John McCain was making appearances in Florida and Georgia on Thursday. |
| President George W Bush said he would back Mr McCain's campaign | President George W Bush said he would back Mr McCain's campaign |
| Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, with state governor Mr Crist by his side, he sidestepped questions about who he planned to pick as his vice-presidential running mate. | Speaking in West Palm Beach, Florida, with state governor Mr Crist by his side, he sidestepped questions about who he planned to pick as his vice-presidential running mate. |
| "You know, obviously, we have just begun that process, and we, in fact, have not even outlined how we're going to go about this," he told reporters. | "You know, obviously, we have just begun that process, and we, in fact, have not even outlined how we're going to go about this," he told reporters. |
| Mr McCain was endorsed by US President George W Bush at the White House on Wednesday, a day after clinching the Republican Party's nomination in Tuesday's primaries. | Mr McCain was endorsed by US President George W Bush at the White House on Wednesday, a day after clinching the Republican Party's nomination in Tuesday's primaries. |
| He has breathing space to map out his strategy to beat the eventual nominee in November, correspondents say. | He has breathing space to map out his strategy to beat the eventual nominee in November, correspondents say. |
| However, he must also ensure that with the media focused on the battle between Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton, his own general election campaign does not fade from view. | However, he must also ensure that with the media focused on the battle between Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton, his own general election campaign does not fade from view. |
| Next contests | Next contests |
| His Democratic rivals are turning their attention to the forthcoming contests and to winning over undecided super-delegates, party officials who will have a vote at the national convention. | His Democratic rivals are turning their attention to the forthcoming contests and to winning over undecided super-delegates, party officials who will have a vote at the national convention. |
| 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 Mr Obama, who won 11 contests in succession in the month before the 4 March polls, has pointed out that Mrs Clinton "barely dented" his lead in the delegate count, despite her three wins on Tuesday. | 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 Mr Obama, who won 11 contests in succession in the month before the 4 March polls, has pointed out that Mrs Clinton "barely dented" his lead in the delegate count, despite her three wins on Tuesday. |
| He himself won Vermont and, because the Democratic Party allocates delegates proportionally, he and Mrs Clinton will share out the delegates from all four states. | He himself won Vermont and, because the Democratic Party allocates delegates proportionally, he and Mrs Clinton will share out the delegates from all four states. |
| Democrats in Wyoming will take part in a caucus on Saturday, with 12 pledged delegates at stake, and Mississippi has its primary next Tuesday, with 33 Democratic delegates to be awarded. | Democrats in Wyoming will take part in a caucus on Saturday, with 12 pledged delegates at stake, and Mississippi has its primary next Tuesday, with 33 Democratic delegates to be awarded. |
| The next major battle will be the Pennsylvania primary on 22 April, with 158 delegates up for grabs. | The next major battle will be the Pennsylvania primary on 22 April, with 158 delegates up for grabs. |