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| Tied US rivals fight for momentum | Tied US rivals fight for momentum |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| US presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are battling to claim the Democratic momentum after neck and neck Super Tuesday polling. | US presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are battling to claim the Democratic momentum after neck and neck Super Tuesday polling. |
| Mrs Clinton said her campaign was "full speed ahead" after she clinched several big states in the biggest day of voting yet in the party nominations battle. | Mrs Clinton said her campaign was "full speed ahead" after she clinched several big states in the biggest day of voting yet in the party nominations battle. |
| Mr Obama said there were "many more rounds to fight", but he was "less of an underdog" than he was two weeks ago. | Mr Obama said there were "many more rounds to fight", but he was "less of an underdog" than he was two weeks ago. |
| Republican John McCain, now well ahead in his race, called for party unity. | Republican John McCain, now well ahead in his race, called for party unity. |
| Correspondents say Mr McCain now looks unbeatable, but the Democratic race could continue until the party convention in August where the nomination will be sealed. | Correspondents say Mr McCain now looks unbeatable, but the Democratic race could continue until the party convention in August where the nomination will be sealed. |
| Facing six more contests over four days, starting on Saturday, Mrs Clinton said it would be a "mad dash to Tuesday". | Facing six more contests over four days, starting on Saturday, Mrs Clinton said it would be a "mad dash to Tuesday". |
| DEMOCRATIC RESULTS Hillary Clinton 8 states, 782 delegates Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Arizona, California | DEMOCRATIC RESULTS Hillary Clinton 8 states, 782 delegates Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Arizona, California |
| Barack Obama 13 states, 757 delegates Georgia, Illinois, Delaware, Alabama, Utah, North Dakota, Kansas, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, Alaska, Missouri | Barack Obama 13 states, 757 delegates Georgia, Illinois, Delaware, Alabama, Utah, North Dakota, Kansas, Connecticut, Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, Alaska, Missouri |
| 2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP She said she was "very pleased" with her victories in eight states, including delegate-rich New York and California, in the Super Tuesday contests. | |
| Both she and Mr Obama, who won 13 states, claimed to have had the edge in the day's results. | Both she and Mr Obama, who won 13 states, claimed to have had the edge in the day's results. |
| Mrs Clinton claimed to have won "most votes and most delegates", while Mr Obama said he had clinched "most states and most delegates". | Mrs Clinton claimed to have won "most votes and most delegates", while Mr Obama said he had clinched "most states and most delegates". |
| Party officials were still, however, carrying out the complex calculations that translate Tuesday's votes into numbers of delegates to back the respective candidates at the party convention. | Party officials were still, however, carrying out the complex calculations that translate Tuesday's votes into numbers of delegates to back the respective candidates at the party convention. |
| Mr Obama hailed an "extraordinary night" and a "big victory" for his campaign. | Mr Obama hailed an "extraordinary night" and a "big victory" for his campaign. |
| REPORTS FROM THE CAMPS McCain sees 'long way ahead'Excitement in Clinton campObama buys more timeSubdued mood at Romney HQ "We feel confident that the wind is at our back," said Mr Obama. "I have great confidence this campaign is gaining momentum every day." | REPORTS FROM THE CAMPS McCain sees 'long way ahead'Excitement in Clinton campObama buys more timeSubdued mood at Romney HQ "We feel confident that the wind is at our back," said Mr Obama. "I have great confidence this campaign is gaining momentum every day." |
| He said Mrs Clinton remained the favourite because of the enormous familiarity people have with her. | He said Mrs Clinton remained the favourite because of the enormous familiarity people have with her. |
| "But you know we're turning out to be a scrappy little team," he said. | "But you know we're turning out to be a scrappy little team," he said. |
| Mrs Clinton confirmed that she had loaned her campaign $5m of her own money, in order to be competitive against Mr Obama, who had raised more money in the month of January. | Mrs Clinton confirmed that she had loaned her campaign $5m of her own money, in order to be competitive against Mr Obama, who had raised more money in the month of January. |
| Marginal lead | Marginal lead |
| Counting continues in one Democratic contest - New Mexico. With 180 precincts out of 184 reporting, Mrs Clinton was leading Mr Obama by only 214 votes. | Counting continues in one Democratic contest - New Mexico. With 180 precincts out of 184 reporting, Mrs Clinton was leading Mr Obama by only 214 votes. |
| WHAT IS SUPER TUESDAY? 24 states holding simultaneous contests to help decide the Democratic and Republican presidential nominationsAbout 40% of each party's delegates - who will choose the candidate - are up for grabsKey states electing large numbers of delegates include California, New York and Illinois Party split benefits McCainWinners not victorsConservative angstJustin Webb's AmericaQ: What's next? In terms of delegates captured, Mrs Clinton was only marginally ahead, under the Democrats' system of proportional distribution. | WHAT IS SUPER TUESDAY? 24 states holding simultaneous contests to help decide the Democratic and Republican presidential nominationsAbout 40% of each party's delegates - who will choose the candidate - are up for grabsKey states electing large numbers of delegates include California, New York and Illinois Party split benefits McCainWinners not victorsConservative angstJustin Webb's AmericaQ: What's next? In terms of delegates captured, Mrs Clinton was only marginally ahead, under the Democrats' system of proportional distribution. |
| Both are still well short of the 2,025 needed to secure the party's nomination. | Both are still well short of the 2,025 needed to secure the party's nomination. |
| Overall, voters were choosing 42% of delegates on Super Tuesday. | Overall, voters were choosing 42% of delegates on Super Tuesday. |
| The BBC's North America editor Justin Webb points out that Mrs Clinton won in states such as New York, New Jersey and California that will be major Democratic targets in the presidential election in November. | The BBC's North America editor Justin Webb points out that Mrs Clinton won in states such as New York, New Jersey and California that will be major Democratic targets in the presidential election in November. |
| In contrast, he says, Mr Obama's wins were in states such as Georgia and North Dakota, which are not such key prizes, raising legitimate questions about the long-term viability of his campaign. | In contrast, he says, Mr Obama's wins were in states such as Georgia and North Dakota, which are not such key prizes, raising legitimate questions about the long-term viability of his campaign. |
| 'Calm down' | 'Calm down' |
| Mr McCain called for unity in the Republican party after a series of poll victories that correspondents say seriously wounded his main rival, Mitt Romney. | Mr McCain called for unity in the Republican party after a series of poll victories that correspondents say seriously wounded his main rival, Mitt Romney. |
| REPUBLICAN RESULTS John McCain 9 states, 605 delegates Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Oklahoma, Arizona, Missouri, California | REPUBLICAN RESULTS John McCain 9 states, 605 delegates Connecticut, Illinois, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Oklahoma, Arizona, Missouri, California |
| Mitt Romney 7 states, 201 delegates Massachusetts, Utah, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Alaska, Minnesota | Mitt Romney 7 states, 201 delegates Massachusetts, Utah, North Dakota, Montana, Colorado, Alaska, Minnesota |
| Mike Huckabee 5 states, 152 delegates West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee | Mike Huckabee 5 states, 152 delegates West Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee |
| 1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP Mr McCain enjoyed wins in the big states of California and New York, as well as Illinois, Oklahoma, New Jersey, Missouri, Connecticut, Delaware, and his home state of Arizona. | |
| But five wins for former Baptist minister Mike Huckabee, who was polling a distant third but is popular with evangelical Christians, backed up the widely held view that Mr McCain lacks support from conservatives in his own party. | But five wins for former Baptist minister Mike Huckabee, who was polling a distant third but is popular with evangelical Christians, backed up the widely held view that Mr McCain lacks support from conservatives in his own party. |
| Some key conservative figures have refused to vote for Mr McCain in the presidential election if he wins the nomination. | Some key conservative figures have refused to vote for Mr McCain in the presidential election if he wins the nomination. |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Mr McCain said: ""I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there are areas that we can agree on for the good of the party and for the good of the country." | Speaking on Wednesday, Mr McCain said: ""I do hope that at some point we would just calm down a little bit and see if there are areas that we can agree on for the good of the party and for the good of the country." |
| Both Mr McCain's rivals, Mr Huckabee and Mr Romney, have vowed to fight on. | Both Mr McCain's rivals, Mr Huckabee and Mr Romney, have vowed to fight on. |
| Our correspondent says the presidential race is living up to its billing as the most unpredictable in living memory. | Our correspondent says the presidential race is living up to its billing as the most unpredictable in living memory. |
| He says a Republican nominee may emerge earlier on, but one who lacks party support, to face two Democrats who both have enthusiastic party backing but could spend many more months fighting each other. | He says a Republican nominee may emerge earlier on, but one who lacks party support, to face two Democrats who both have enthusiastic party backing but could spend many more months fighting each other. |
| The next stage in the nominations battle will be contests on Saturday in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state, followed by primaries on 12 February in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. | The next stage in the nominations battle will be contests on Saturday in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state, followed by primaries on 12 February in Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC. |
| But correspondents say the Democratic contenders will also increasingly be putting pressure on so-called super-delegates, party members who are able to decide for themselves who to back at the convention, rather than being obliged to back whoever their state's voters support. | But correspondents say the Democratic contenders will also increasingly be putting pressure on so-called super-delegates, party members who are able to decide for themselves who to back at the convention, rather than being obliged to back whoever their state's voters support. |