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/7198524.stm
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| McCain leads in key primary vote | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| John McCain is projected to win a tight battle for the Republican primary election in the US state of South Carolina, US networks say. | |
| With 83% of the returns counted, John McCain had 33% of the vote to former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee's 30%. | |
| Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic presidential caucus in the US state of Nevada, leading Barack Obama 51% to 45%, with almost all the vote counted. | Hillary Clinton has won the Democratic presidential caucus in the US state of Nevada, leading Barack Obama 51% to 45%, with almost all the vote counted. |
| She told cheering supporters: "I guess this is how the West was won." | She told cheering supporters: "I guess this is how the West was won." |
| Mitt Romney won Nevada's Republican contest, taking 52% of the vote with 99% of the returns counted. Ron Paul came second with 14% and John McCain third with 13%. | Mitt Romney won Nevada's Republican contest, taking 52% of the vote with 99% of the returns counted. Ron Paul came second with 14% and John McCain third with 13%. |
| The caucus has been largely overshadowed by South Carolina's primary, where most of the candidates chose to focus their efforts. | The caucus has been largely overshadowed by South Carolina's primary, where most of the candidates chose to focus their efforts. |
| Observers said wintry weather, particularly in the north of the normally balmy southern state, might affect turn-out. | Observers said wintry weather, particularly in the north of the normally balmy southern state, might affect turn-out. |
| The result is being keenly watched because the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to become the party's nominee in every presidential election since 1980. | The result is being keenly watched because the Republican winner in South Carolina has gone on to become the party's nominee in every presidential election since 1980. |
| 'Confidence and optimism' | 'Confidence and optimism' |
| Mrs Clinton hailed her win as "an extraordinary success for Nevada and the Democratic Party", and lauded turn-out of more than 100,000 voters. | Mrs Clinton hailed her win as "an extraordinary success for Nevada and the Democratic Party", and lauded turn-out of more than 100,000 voters. |
| This is a huge win for Hillary. This is big, this is a big day Terry McAuliffe, Clinton campaign manager Nevada's Latino votePoll guide - S CarolinaPoll guide - Nevada | This is a huge win for Hillary. This is big, this is a big day Terry McAuliffe, Clinton campaign manager Nevada's Latino votePoll guide - S CarolinaPoll guide - Nevada |
| "I want to say that we will all be united in November to beat the Republicans," she said, and vowed to "move with confidence and optimism into the future". | "I want to say that we will all be united in November to beat the Republicans," she said, and vowed to "move with confidence and optimism into the future". |
| Mrs Clinton's campaign manager Terry McAuliffe told US network MSNBC: "This is a huge win for Hillary. This is big, this is a big day." | Mrs Clinton's campaign manager Terry McAuliffe told US network MSNBC: "This is a huge win for Hillary. This is big, this is a big day." |
| However, Mr Obama's campaign said that he had in fact won the battle in terms of the number of delegates which would be allocated to back him at the party conference where the Democratic presidential candidate will be chosen. | However, Mr Obama's campaign said that he had in fact won the battle in terms of the number of delegates which would be allocated to back him at the party conference where the Democratic presidential candidate will be chosen. |
| The Associated Press reported that Mr Obama had won 13 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 12. No official figures were available. | The Associated Press reported that Mr Obama had won 13 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 12. No official figures were available. |
| "We won an honest, uplifting campaign that focused on the real problems Americans are facing," said Mr Obama. | "We won an honest, uplifting campaign that focused on the real problems Americans are facing," said Mr Obama. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY As is common with American politics, the numbers can be deceptive Daniel Noon, Arlington, US Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY As is common with American politics, the numbers can be deceptive Daniel Noon, Arlington, US Send us your comments |
| But his campaign manager accused the Clinton campaign of a week of "false, divisive, attacks designed to mislead caucus-goers". | But his campaign manager accused the Clinton campaign of a week of "false, divisive, attacks designed to mislead caucus-goers". |
| Mr Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and Mr Paul were the only Republican candidates to campaign seriously in Nevada. | Mr Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, and Mr Paul were the only Republican candidates to campaign seriously in Nevada. |
| Mr Romney said: "Today, the people of Nevada voted for change in Washington. Now Washington must act and take the steps necessary to strengthen our economy." | Mr Romney said: "Today, the people of Nevada voted for change in Washington. Now Washington must act and take the steps necessary to strengthen our economy." |
| Analysts say Mr Romney, a Mormon, may have benefited from the support of the nearly 7% of Nevada voters who share his faith. | Analysts say Mr Romney, a Mormon, may have benefited from the support of the nearly 7% of Nevada voters who share his faith. |
| 'Embarrassed' | 'Embarrassed' |
| Like their Democratic counterparts in Nevada, the Republican presidential hopefuls focused on the economy in their final campaigning in South Carolina, which is losing many manufacturing jobs. | Like their Democratic counterparts in Nevada, the Republican presidential hopefuls focused on the economy in their final campaigning in South Carolina, which is losing many manufacturing jobs. |
| Candidate wins nomination by accumulating 1,191 delegatesMost are "pledged delegates", won at primaries or caucuses34 delegates at stake in Nevada and 24 in South CarolinaDelegates vote at summer convention to confirm nominee Graphs do not include delegates from Nevada and S Carolina votes | Candidate wins nomination by accumulating 1,191 delegatesMost are "pledged delegates", won at primaries or caucuses34 delegates at stake in Nevada and 24 in South CarolinaDelegates vote at summer convention to confirm nominee Graphs do not include delegates from Nevada and S Carolina votes |
| Mr McCain, who won in New Hampshire, partly blamed his party for America's woes, saying to voters: "As a Republican, I stand before you embarrassed. Embarrassed that we let that spending get out of control." | Mr McCain, who won in New Hampshire, partly blamed his party for America's woes, saying to voters: "As a Republican, I stand before you embarrassed. Embarrassed that we let that spending get out of control." |
| The Arizona senator lost the state to George W Bush in 2000 and will be hoping to turn that record on its head. | The Arizona senator lost the state to George W Bush in 2000 and will be hoping to turn that record on its head. |
| Correspondents say Mr Huckabee is hoping for the support of the 53% of registered Republicans who describe themselves as white evangelical Christians - a group instrumental in his victory in the Iowa caucuses last month. | Correspondents say Mr Huckabee is hoping for the support of the 53% of registered Republicans who describe themselves as white evangelical Christians - a group instrumental in his victory in the Iowa caucuses last month. |
| However, Mr Huckabee has been under fire for remarks apparently equating same-sex marriage with bestiality. | However, Mr Huckabee has been under fire for remarks apparently equating same-sex marriage with bestiality. |
| With 83% of the vote counted, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, who has been focusing heavily on South Carolina, had 16% of the vote, ahead of Mr Romney. | |
| Observers say Mr Thompson needs a good result in the state to have a chance of remaining a viable contender for the Republican nomination. | Observers say Mr Thompson needs a good result in the state to have a chance of remaining a viable contender for the Republican nomination. |
| Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, who has made little headway in the race, announced he was dropping out before the votes were counted in South Carolina. | |
| Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has virtually ignored the early races to concentrate on the bigger prize of Florida at the end of the month. | |
| Hispanic vote | Hispanic vote |
| Going into the Nevada vote, Mrs Clinton was backed by influential politicians in the state's Hispanic community, which makes up about 25% of the population, while Mr Obama had the support of a powerful local union organisation. | Going into the Nevada vote, Mrs Clinton was backed by influential politicians in the state's Hispanic community, which makes up about 25% of the population, while Mr Obama had the support of a powerful local union organisation. |
| Candidate wins nomination by accumulating 2,025 delegatesMost are "pledged delegates", won at primaries or caucuses25 delegates at stake in NevadaDelegates vote at summer convention to confirm nominee Graphs do not include delegates from Nevada caucus In pictures: S Carolina and Nevada votes | Candidate wins nomination by accumulating 2,025 delegatesMost are "pledged delegates", won at primaries or caucuses25 delegates at stake in NevadaDelegates vote at summer convention to confirm nominee Graphs do not include delegates from Nevada caucus In pictures: S Carolina and Nevada votes |
| Many of their target voters work in the casinos and resorts of Las Vegas and for the first time, nine casinos held Democratic caucuses to try to make it easier for workers to vote. | Many of their target voters work in the casinos and resorts of Las Vegas and for the first time, nine casinos held Democratic caucuses to try to make it easier for workers to vote. |
| Voter Maribel Suarez told the BBC: "I have always supported Hillary because she's a woman and it's time we had a woman president. | Voter Maribel Suarez told the BBC: "I have always supported Hillary because she's a woman and it's time we had a woman president. |
| "I feel Bill Clinton was a good leader for the Latino community and even though my union supports Obama, I haven't changed my mind. My vote is my vote and I'm proud of it." | "I feel Bill Clinton was a good leader for the Latino community and even though my union supports Obama, I haven't changed my mind. My vote is my vote and I'm proud of it." |
| Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama will take their struggle for the Democratic nomination to South Carolina, where the party's primary takes place on 26 January. | Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama will take their struggle for the Democratic nomination to South Carolina, where the party's primary takes place on 26 January. |
| Correspondents say the key issue will be which of the two candidates can attract the support of the state's black community, who make up a third of the population. | Correspondents say the key issue will be which of the two candidates can attract the support of the state's black community, who make up a third of the population. |
| The ballots precede Super Tuesday, when 22 states will hold polls on 5 February. | The ballots precede Super Tuesday, when 22 states will hold polls on 5 February. |