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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Obama 'to win' party nomination | Obama 'to win' party nomination |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama will clinch his party's nomination once the final primaries are complete, US media report. | US Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama will clinch his party's nomination once the final primaries are complete, US media report. |
| Voters in South Dakota and Montana have been voting in the party's final nominating contests. | Voters in South Dakota and Montana have been voting in the party's final nominating contests. |
| Based on exit poll data and information from US media, Mr Obama will secure enough delegates to win the candidacy. | Based on exit poll data and information from US media, Mr Obama will secure enough delegates to win the candidacy. |
| His rival Hillary Clinton has said she will not concede tonight, but is "open" to becoming Mr Obama's running mate. | His rival Hillary Clinton has said she will not concede tonight, but is "open" to becoming Mr Obama's running mate. |
| Mrs Clinton made the comments in a conference call with other New York lawmakers, US media said. | Mrs Clinton made the comments in a conference call with other New York lawmakers, US media said. |
| Montana and South Dakota are completing the primaries, with Mr Obama only a few delegates short of the 2,118 needed ahead of the polls closing. | Montana and South Dakota are completing the primaries, with Mr Obama only a few delegates short of the 2,118 needed ahead of the polls closing. |
| If he does as well as expected in Tuesday's contests - where 31 elected delegates are at stake - he will need to pick up only a handful of endorsements from the remaining uncommitted "super-delegates" - party officials with a free choice over who to support - to pass the winning post. | If he does as well as expected in Tuesday's contests - where 31 elected delegates are at stake - he will need to pick up only a handful of endorsements from the remaining uncommitted "super-delegates" - party officials with a free choice over who to support - to pass the winning post. |
| While the primaries were taking place, the Illinois senator picked up dozens of super-delegates, putting him within reach of victory. | |
| Polls have closed in South Dakota and were scheduled to close at at 2000 (0200 GMT) in Montana. | |
| Before the voting was complete, Republican presumptive nominee John McCain delivered a speech to supporters in Louisiana, in which he declared that "the primary season is over, and the general election campaign has begun". | |
| In his speech, he attacked Mr Obama for being "the wrong change", and defended himself against the Obama campaign's criticism that he will continue President Bush's policies, saying he had "not seen eye to eye" with the president on many issues. | |
| Concession wrangle | Concession wrangle |
| Earlier, AP reported that two senior campaign officials were saying the race was effectively over. | Earlier, AP reported that two senior campaign officials were saying the race was effectively over. |
| The officials suggested that in a speech in New York City Mrs Clinton would not formally end her campaign but would accept Mr Obama had enough delegates to win, the agency said. | The officials suggested that in a speech in New York City Mrs Clinton would not formally end her campaign but would accept Mr Obama had enough delegates to win, the agency said. |
| This campaign carries on Terry McAuliffeClinton campaign chair Fight to the end | This campaign carries on Terry McAuliffeClinton campaign chair Fight to the end |
| Not formally conceding would give Mrs Clinton more leverage on her future role in the Democratic Party's battle against Senator John McCain in the November election, analysts said. | Not formally conceding would give Mrs Clinton more leverage on her future role in the Democratic Party's battle against Senator John McCain in the November election, analysts said. |
| But, speaking on CNN, Clinton campaign chief Terry McAuliffe said the reports were "100%" incorrect. | But, speaking on CNN, Clinton campaign chief Terry McAuliffe said the reports were "100%" incorrect. |
| "I can honestly say as chairman of this campaign that until someone has the numbers, this campaign carries on. | "I can honestly say as chairman of this campaign that until someone has the numbers, this campaign carries on. |
| "The race goes on. We've got two important votes today and then tomorrow we've got to work the super-delegates and we believe we can persuade enough super-delegates to come over and support Senator Clinton." | "The race goes on. We've got two important votes today and then tomorrow we've got to work the super-delegates and we believe we can persuade enough super-delegates to come over and support Senator Clinton." |
| Minnesota speech | Minnesota speech |
| Drama still lies ahead and will start in the moments after Tuesday's polls close, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb. | Drama still lies ahead and will start in the moments after Tuesday's polls close, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb. |
| James Clyburn explains the delay in endorsing Barack Obama | |
| Mr Obama picked up several other endorsements from super-delegates on Monday, and the formal backing of South Carolina Representative James Clyburn, an influential African-American politician, on Tuesday. | |
| Campaigning in South Dakota on Monday, Mrs Clinton said the end of voting would mark "the beginning of a new phase of the campaign" - one in which she would turn her attention to winning over super-delegates. | Campaigning in South Dakota on Monday, Mrs Clinton said the end of voting would mark "the beginning of a new phase of the campaign" - one in which she would turn her attention to winning over super-delegates. |
| Mr Obama is due to speak in St Paul, Minnesota, where the Republicans will hold their convention in September and formally nominate Mr McCain as their candidate. | Mr Obama is due to speak in St Paul, Minnesota, where the Republicans will hold their convention in September and formally nominate Mr McCain as their candidate. |
| Mr Obama appears well aware he must heal divisions within the Democratic Party. | Mr Obama appears well aware he must heal divisions within the Democratic Party. |
| "The sooner we can bring the party together, the better, so we can focus on John McCain and taking back the White House," he said. | "The sooner we can bring the party together, the better, so we can focus on John McCain and taking back the White House," he said. |
| Are you in South Dakota or Montana? Are you voting on Tuesday? How do you intend to vote? What outcome do you expect to see after the final round of primaries? Send us your comments using the form below. | Are you in South Dakota or Montana? Are you voting on Tuesday? How do you intend to vote? What outcome do you expect to see after the final round of primaries? Send us your comments using the form below. |