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Obama wins two of three primaries Obama wins primaries clean sweep
(10 minutes later)
Barack Obama has won the Democratic primary polls in Virginia and Maryland, according to US media projections. Barack Obama has won the Democratic primary polls in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia, according to US media projections and early results.
The results will be a blow to Hillary Clinton, who has now lost a string of contests to Mr Obama. Results are still to come from voting in Washington DC. The results will be a blow to rival Hillary Clinton, who has now lost a string of contests to Mr Obama.
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.
For the Republicans, John McCain has beaten Mike Huckabee in Virginia and Maryland, according to projections. For the Republicans, front-runner John McCain has beaten Mike Huckabee in all three races, according to projections.
With results counted in three-quarters of Virginia's precincts, Mr McCain led by 48% to Mr Huckabee's 43%.With results counted in three-quarters of Virginia's precincts, Mr McCain led by 48% to Mr Huckabee's 43%.
A victory means he will claim all of the winner-take-all state's 60 delegates, extending his significant lead in terms of the number of delegates who will vote for him at the party's national convention.A victory means he will claim all of the winner-take-all state's 60 delegates, extending his significant lead in terms of the number of delegates who will vote for him at the party's national convention.
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 But correspondents say Mr McCain 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 But correspondents say Mr McCain 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.
Exit polls suggest he won the support of very conservative voters in Virginia by nearly a three to one margin, while Mr McCain was backed by somewhat conservative and moderate Republicans.Exit polls suggest he won the support of very conservative voters in Virginia by nearly a three to one margin, while Mr McCain was backed by somewhat conservative and moderate Republicans.
Halfway thereHalfway there
In Virginia, Mr Obama was leading by 63% to Mrs Clinton's 36%, with three-quarters of precincts reporting.In Virginia, Mr Obama was leading by 63% to Mrs Clinton's 36%, with three-quarters of precincts reporting.
Baltimore voters give their views ahead of primary elections in MarylandIn picturesBaltimore voters give their views ahead of primary elections in MarylandIn pictures
Mrs Clinton's deputy campaign manager, Mike Henry, has reportedly stepped down following the results, in a shake-up coming only a day after her campaign manager was replaced.Mrs Clinton's deputy campaign manager, Mike Henry, has reportedly stepped down following the results, in a shake-up coming only a day after her campaign manager was replaced.
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, and with white men.Exit polls also indicated Mr Obama had made gains with women voters, who have been a core constituency for Mrs Clinton in past contests, and with white men.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton12 states, 1,164 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama20 states, 1,154 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, 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 McCain13 states, 789 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, 1,164 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama20 states, 1,154 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, 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 McCain13 states, 789 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.
A big win for Mr Obama in Virginia might put him ahead of Mrs Clinton in the delegate count. At a campaign rally in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday night, Mrs Clinton told her supporters that her message would "sweep across Texas in the next three weeks". Mr Obama 's victories might put him ahead of Mrs Clinton in the delegate count.
At a campaign rally in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday night, Mrs Clinton told her supporters that her message would "sweep across Texas in the next three weeks".
"I'm tested, I'm ready, let's make it happen," she said."I'm tested, I'm ready, let's make it happen," she said.
Speaking a day earlier, Mr Obama said he 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.Speaking a day earlier, Mr Obama said he 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 contests follow 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 was given a potential boost on Tuesday with the endorsement of former astronaut and former Ohio Senator John Glenn.Mrs Clinton 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.