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Obama projected to win Virginia Obama projected to win Virginia
(10 minutes later)
Barack Obama has won the Democratic primary in Virginia, according to US media projections based on exit polls.Barack Obama has won the Democratic primary in Virginia, according to US media projections based on exit polls.
That result would be a blow to rival Hillary Clinton, thought to stand her best chance in Virginia. Polls remain open in Maryland and Washington DC. That result would be a blow to Hillary Clinton, who stood her best chance in Virginia. Polls remain open in Maryland but have closed in Washington DC.
Senator Clinton is looking ahead to primaries in Ohio and Texas on 4 March in the hope of reversing her fortunes.Senator Clinton is looking ahead to primaries in Ohio and Texas on 4 March in the hope of reversing her fortunes.
In the Republican race, Mike Huckabee is neck and neck with front-runner John McCain, based on partial results. In the Republican race, Mike Huckabee is neck-and-neck with front-runner John McCain, based on partial results.
Mr McCain, who has many more delegates overall, went into the vote keen to bolster his front-runner position after losing to Mr Huckabee in Kansas and Louisiana on Saturday.Mr McCain, who has many more delegates overall, went into the vote keen to bolster his front-runner position after losing to Mr Huckabee in Kansas and Louisiana on Saturday.
I may be skinny, but I'm tough, too - I'm looking forward to mixing it up with John McCain Barack Obama In pictures: Potomac PrimaryPrimary may prove pivotalElections come to Culpeper Correspondents say the Arizona senator still has some work to do to unite his party, amid continuing criticisms from leading party members who have questioned his conservative credentials.I may be skinny, but I'm tough, too - I'm looking forward to mixing it up with John McCain Barack Obama In pictures: Potomac PrimaryPrimary may prove pivotalElections come to Culpeper Correspondents say the Arizona senator still has some work to do to unite his party, amid continuing criticisms from leading party members who have questioned his conservative credentials.
Mr Huckabee has been under pressure to stand aside for the sake of party unity, but has so far said he has no intention of pulling out.Mr Huckabee has been under pressure to stand aside for the sake of party unity, but has so far said he has no intention of pulling out.
He focused his campaign efforts on Virginia, where the winner for the Republicans will take all 63 delegates.He focused his campaign efforts on Virginia, where the winner for the Republicans will take all 63 delegates.
Asked in a radio interview if he stood a chance of winning there, he said: "It depends on if our voters truly are willing to come out and show that there ought to be a real race."Asked in a radio interview if he stood a chance of winning there, he said: "It depends on if our voters truly are willing to come out and show that there ought to be a real race."
Halfway thereHalfway there
Polls have closed in Virginia and the District of Columbia.Polls have closed in Virginia and the District of Columbia.
The head of elections in Maryland said a judge had extended voting for 90 minutes - until 2130 ET (0230 GMT) - because of traffic problems caused by bad weatherThe head of elections in Maryland said a judge had extended voting for 90 minutes - until 2130 ET (0230 GMT) - because of traffic problems caused by bad weather
Baltimore voters give their views ahead of primary elections in MarylandIn pictures In Virginia, very early results suggested Mr Obama was leading by 60% to Mrs Clinton's 39%, with 12% of precincts reporting. Baltimore voters give their views ahead of primary elections in MarylandIn pictures In Virginia, early results suggested Mr Obama was leading by 62% to Mrs Clinton's 37%, with 32% of precincts reporting.
Exit polls conducted for the Associated Press in Virginia suggested Mr Obama had won the support of two-thirds of men and almost six in 10 women.Exit polls conducted for the Associated Press in Virginia suggested Mr Obama had won the support of two-thirds of men and almost six in 10 women.
Nine in 10 black voters in Virginia backed the Illinois senator, according to the exit polls, an even bigger margin than in previous primaries. They made up about three in 10 of the state's voters.Nine in 10 black voters in Virginia backed the Illinois senator, according to the exit polls, an even bigger margin than in previous primaries. They made up about three in 10 of the state's voters.
Exit polls also indicated Mr Obama had made gains with women voters, who have been a core constituency for Mrs Clinton in past contests.Exit polls also indicated Mr Obama had made gains with women voters, who have been a core constituency for Mrs Clinton in past contests.

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, 1,147 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)
Each Democratic candidate is about halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the party's national convention in August.Each Democratic candidate is about halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the party's national convention in August.
Virginia has 83 delegates up for grabs, while Maryland offers 70 and Washington DC has 15.Virginia has 83 delegates up for grabs, while Maryland offers 70 and Washington DC has 15.
Both candidates campaigned hard in the region on Monday.Both candidates campaigned hard in the region on Monday.
Mrs Clinton told General Motors staff in Baltimore County, Maryland, that her experience would be key in the battle for the presidency with Senator McCain.Mrs Clinton told General Motors staff in Baltimore County, Maryland, that her experience would be key in the battle for the presidency with Senator McCain.
"A lot of these fights are fights you have to have," she said, according to the Washington Post. "You can't walk away from them.""A lot of these fights are fights you have to have," she said, according to the Washington Post. "You can't walk away from them."
But Mr Obama said he, too, was ready for the fight. "I may be skinny, but I'm tough, too. I'm looking forward to mixing it up with John McCain," the newspaper quoted him as saying.But Mr Obama said he, too, was ready for the fight. "I may be skinny, but I'm tough, too. I'm looking forward to mixing it up with John McCain," the newspaper quoted him as saying.
NEXT CONTESTS 19 Feb: Wisconsin (bi-party), Hawaii caucuses (R)2 March: Hawaii caucus (D)4 March: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont (bi-party) Send us your commentsCastro in spat with McCainNEXT CONTESTS 19 Feb: Wisconsin (bi-party), Hawaii caucuses (R)2 March: Hawaii caucus (D)4 March: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont (bi-party) Send us your commentsCastro in spat with McCain
Exit polls indicated that the economy was the top issue for both Democratic and Republican voters in the so-called Potomac Primary, named after the river that runs through the two states and the nation's capital. Exit polls indicated that the economy was the top issue for both Democratic and Republican voters in the so-called "Potomac primary", named after the river that runs through the two states and the nation's capital.
The Potomac Primary follows Mr Obama's weekend victories in Washington state, Louisiana, Nebraska, Maine and the US Virgin Islands. The contests follow Mr Obama's weekend victories in Washington state, Louisiana, Nebraska, Maine and the US Virgin Islands.
Mrs Clinton appointed a new campaign manager, Maggie Williams, after those setbacks.Mrs Clinton appointed a new campaign manager, Maggie Williams, after those setbacks.
She was given a potential boost on Tuesday with the endorsement of former astronaut and former Ohio Senator John Glenn.She was given a potential boost on Tuesday with the endorsement of former astronaut and former Ohio Senator John Glenn.
She and Mr Obama face a long, drawn-out battle after neither was able to deliver a knockout blow in the 22 state contests of Super Tuesday on 5 February.She and Mr Obama face a long, drawn-out battle after neither was able to deliver a knockout blow in the 22 state contests of Super Tuesday on 5 February.