This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7411868.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Obama 'within reach' of victory Obama 'within reach' of victory
(about 2 hours later)
Barack Obama says he is now within reach of winning the Democratic Party's nomination to run in the US presidential election in November. Senator Barack Obama says he is close to securing the Democratic Party's nomination to run in the US presidential election in November.
Senator Obama is set to win a majority of "pledged" delegates, who are won in primary elections, although he is still short of a confirmed overall victory. Mr Obama looks set to win a majority of "pledged" delegates, allocated in primary elections, although he is still short of a confirmed overall victory.
US media have projected a win for him in Tuesday's Oregon primary contest. US media are projecting a win for him in Tuesday's Oregon primary.
But his rival Hillary Clinton won Kentucky's primary by a large margin, and has vowed to fight on. But rival Senator Hillary Clinton won Kentucky's primary by a large margin and has vowed to fight on.
Mr Obama chose to address his supporters on Tuesday night in Iowa, scene of this year's first presidential selection contest.
"We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people," he told his supporters.
DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES Total delegates (pledged and super-delegates) needed for nomination: 2,026Total pledged delegates at stake: 3,253Total super-delegates at stake: 797Total delegate tally for Barack Obama: 1,956Pledged delegate tally for Mr Obama: 1,649Total delegate tally for Hillary Clinton: 1,776Pledged delegate tally for Mrs Clinton: 1,497 Source: Associated Press, as of 0630 BST on 21 May In pictures: Key Democratic pollsKentucky salutes Clinton "You have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States," he added.
He also congratulated his opponent, saying Senator Clinton "has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age".
In the primaries so far, Mr Obama has secured more of the delegates who will choose the party's nominee at the Democratic National Convention.
Correspondents say he will be hoping that his newly-secured majority of pledged delegates will persuade the remaining undecided "super-delegates" - party elders who get an automatic vote at the convention - to rally behind him.
'Popular vote''Popular vote'
Mr Obama addressed his supporters in Iowa, scene of this year's first presidential selection contest.
"We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people," he told his supporters.
DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES Pledged delegates: 3,253Super-delegates: 797Total delegates needed for nomination: 2,026Delegates for Barack Obama: 1,956 (1,649 pledged, 307 super-delegates)Delegates for Hillary Clinton: 1,776 (1,497 pledged, 279 super-delegates) Source: Associated Press, as of 0630 BST on 21 May In pictures: Two key primariesKentucky salutes Clinton "You have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States," he said.
The party's presidential candidate will be chosen by party delegates at the Democratic National Convention in August.
With all the votes counted in Kentucky and most of the votes counted in Oregon, Mr Obama has won 1,649 pledged delegates, surpassing the 1,627 needed to claim a majority.
Mrs Clinton has won 1,497 pledged delegates.
Correspondents say Mr Obama will be hoping that his majority will persuade the remaining undecided "super-delegates" - senior party members who get a vote at the convention - to rally behind him.
Hailing her Kentucky victory, Mrs Clinton said she would fight "until we have a nominee - whoever she may be".Hailing her Kentucky victory, Mrs Clinton said she would fight "until we have a nominee - whoever she may be".
In a passage seemingly directed at the remaining undecided super-delegates, Mrs Clinton said she would be "best positioned to win in November" against the presumptive Republican candidate, Senator John McCain.
Barack Obama claims election milestoneBarack Obama claims election milestone
And in a passage seemingly directed at the remaining undecided super-delegates, Mrs Clinton argued that she would be "best positioned to win in November" against Republican candidate Senator John McCain. Mrs Clinton also said she was winning "the popular vote" over Mr Obama, although that claim has been disputed by the Obama camp.
Mrs Clinton also said she was "winning the popular vote" over Mr Obama. BBC North America editor Justin Webb says Mr Obama wants to suggest without quite saying so that the primary season is closing and that the general election race is beginning.
The claim has been questioned by the Obama campaign, which argues that Mrs Clinton's popular vote calculation includes disputed contests in Michigan and Florida, and does not include results from several caucus states in which Mr Obama did well. But Mrs Clinton has warned Mr Obama against declaring premature victory, saying it would be a "slap in the face" to her millions of supporters so far and those states yet to vote.
So far, Mr Obama has won 1,956 of the 2,026 delegates he needs to clinch the nomination. The remaining primaries are Puerto Rico, on 1 June, followed two days later by South Dakota and Montana.
BBC North America editor Justin Webb says Mr Obama wants to suggest without quite saying so that the primary season is closing and the general election race is beginning.
Mrs Clinton has warned Mr Obama against declaring premature victory, saying it would be a "slap in the face" to her millions of supporters so far and those states yet to vote.
Racial attitudesRacial attitudes
In Kentucky, Mrs Clinton won 65% of the vote to Mr Obama's 30%.In Kentucky, Mrs Clinton won 65% of the vote to Mr Obama's 30%.
In Oregon, with more than half of the state's precincts reporting, Mr Obama was leading Mrs Clinton by 16 points. In Oregon, with most of the votes counted, Mr Obama had 58% of the vote to Mrs Clinton's 41.7%.
Exit polls conducted by the Associated Press news agency suggested that Mrs Clinton's Kentucky victory was rooted in her strong support among the state's many white working-class voters.Exit polls conducted by the Associated Press news agency suggested that Mrs Clinton's Kentucky victory was rooted in her strong support among the state's many white working-class voters.
Hillary Clinton's victory speech in Kentucky
Three-quarters of white voters without a college education backed the New York senator, the poll suggested.
Racial attitudes may also have motivated some Kentucky voters' decisions: of the 20% of white voters who said that race a had played a part in their choice, nine out of 10 backed Mrs Clinton.Racial attitudes may also have motivated some Kentucky voters' decisions: of the 20% of white voters who said that race a had played a part in their choice, nine out of 10 backed Mrs Clinton.
Hillary Clinton's victory speech in Kentucky
Phone surveys of Oregon voters painted a strikingly different picture of that state's electorate.Phone surveys of Oregon voters painted a strikingly different picture of that state's electorate.
Mr Obama won 60% of the state's white voters, and even blue-collar white voters were evenly divided between the two candidates. Mr Obama won 60% of the state's white voters, while just 10% of the state's voters said that race was important when deciding their vote, and they were split evenly between Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton.
Just 10% of the state's voters said that race was important when deciding their vote, and they were split evenly between Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton.
As the results were coming in, Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton and Mr McCain revealed details of how much money they had raised in April.As the results were coming in, Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton and Mr McCain revealed details of how much money they had raised in April.
Mr Obama raised $31m (£15.5m), less than he raised in March, but still the highest of the three presidential hopefuls. Mr Obama raised $31m (£15.5m), less than in March but still the highest of the three presidential hopefuls.
Mrs Clinton's campaign took in $22m (£11.5m), its second best fundraising month so far in the campaign, while Mr McCain managed to raise $18m (£9m), his best ever monthly total. Mrs Clinton's campaign took in $22m (£11.5m), its second best fundraising month so far, while Mr McCain managed to raise $18m (£9m), his best monthly total.
/>
Are you in Kentucky or Oregon? Did you vote on Tuesday? What do you think of Senator Obama's speech? Is it all over for Senator Clinton or should she fight on? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Kentucky or Oregon? Did you vote on Tuesday? What do you think of Senator Obama's speech? Is it all over for Senator Clinton or should she fight on? Send us your comments using the form below.
Name:
 Name: