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Obama takes clear Maine victory Obama takes clear Maine victory
(about 16 hours later)
Illinois Senator Barack Obama has won the Democratic caucus in Maine, defeating Hillary Clinton.Illinois Senator Barack Obama has won the Democratic caucus in Maine, defeating Hillary Clinton.
The Maine victory tops a weekend of gains by Mr Obama in the battle for the party's presidential nomination.The Maine victory tops a weekend of gains by Mr Obama in the battle for the party's presidential nomination.
On Saturday, Mr Obama won polls in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state and the US Virgin Islands.On Saturday, Mr Obama won polls in Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington state and the US Virgin Islands.
The clean sweep of all five weekend contests puts him almost neck-and-neck with Hillary Clinton in their deadlocked nomination battle.The clean sweep of all five weekend contests puts him almost neck-and-neck with Hillary Clinton in their deadlocked nomination battle.
Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton has appointed a new campaign manager after this weekend's setbacks.Meanwhile, Mrs Clinton has appointed a new campaign manager after this weekend's setbacks.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton12 states, 1,147 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama19 states, 1,124 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Washington state2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates)Q&A: US election delegates

Republicans

Mike Huckabee8 states, 241 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain13 states, 729 delegates
New Hampshire, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Washington state
Mitt Romney11 states, 288 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)

Democrats

Hillary Clinton12 states, 1,180 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama21 states, 1,187 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington state2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates)Q&A: US election delegates

Republicans

Mike Huckabee8 states, 241 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain15 states, 789 delegates
New Hampshire, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state
Mitt Romney11 states, 288 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)
Maggie Williams, who was the New York senator's chief of staff when her husband was serving as US president, will take over from Patti Solis Doyle, who has decided to step down.Maggie Williams, who was the New York senator's chief of staff when her husband was serving as US president, will take over from Patti Solis Doyle, who has decided to step down.
Campaign aides said Ms Doyle's decision was not urged upon her by Mrs Clinton or any senior members of her team, the Associated Press reports.Campaign aides said Ms Doyle's decision was not urged upon her by Mrs Clinton or any senior members of her team, the Associated Press reports.
Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton now head into a series of contests on Tuesday: Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton now head into a series of contests on Tuesday: Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Across Maine on Sunday, Democrats in 420 cities and towns braved harsh winds and snowfall to turn out in heavy numbers for the state-wide caucuses.Across Maine on Sunday, Democrats in 420 cities and towns braved harsh winds and snowfall to turn out in heavy numbers for the state-wide caucuses.
They were deciding how the state's 24 delegates will be allotted at August's Democratic party national convention.They were deciding how the state's 24 delegates will be allotted at August's Democratic party national convention.
Mr Obama is now projected to pick up 15 delegates, with the remaining nine going to Mrs Clinton.Mr Obama is now projected to pick up 15 delegates, with the remaining nine going to Mrs Clinton.
Presidential backingPresidential backing
On the Republican side, President Bush has described the party's front-runner, John McCain, as a true conservative.On the Republican side, President Bush has described the party's front-runner, John McCain, as a true conservative.
NEXT CONTESTS Tuesday: Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC (multi-party) Role of super-delegatesQ&A: Election delegatesSend us your commentsNEXT CONTESTS Tuesday: Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC (multi-party) Role of super-delegatesQ&A: Election delegatesSend us your comments
The presidential vote of confidence comes despite continuing criticisms from leading party members who have questioned the Arizona senator's conservative credentials.The presidential vote of confidence comes despite continuing criticisms from leading party members who have questioned the Arizona senator's conservative credentials.
Although Mr McCain won primary polling in Washington state on Saturday, correspondents say the Arizona senator still has some work to do to unite his party, as Mike Huckabee won in Kansas and Louisiana.Although Mr McCain won primary polling in Washington state on Saturday, correspondents say the Arizona senator still has some work to do to unite his party, as Mike Huckabee won in Kansas and Louisiana.
Mr Huckabee and third-placed Ron Paul have been coming under pressure to step aside for the sake of party unity.Mr Huckabee and third-placed Ron Paul have been coming under pressure to step aside for the sake of party unity.
But Mr Huckabee said on Saturday that he had no intention of pulling out.But Mr Huckabee said on Saturday that he had no intention of pulling out.
Mr McCain has a wide lead with 719 delegates to Mr Huckabee's 234 and Mr Paul's 14.Mr McCain has a wide lead with 719 delegates to Mr Huckabee's 234 and Mr Paul's 14.
Mr Romney's suspended campaign still has 298 delegates.Mr Romney's suspended campaign still has 298 delegates.
On the Democratic side, Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton are facing the prospect of a long drawn-out battle after neither was able to deliver a knock-out blow in Super Tuesday's 22 state contests.On the Democratic side, Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton are facing the prospect of a long drawn-out battle after neither was able to deliver a knock-out blow in Super Tuesday's 22 state contests.
Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama are practically level, each halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the Democratic party convention in August.Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama are practically level, each halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the Democratic party convention in August.