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Obama wins primaries clean sweep Obama wins primaries clean sweep
(10 minutes later)
Barack Obama has won the Democratic primary polls in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia by wide margins, according to partial results.Barack Obama has won the Democratic primary polls in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia by wide margins, according to partial results.
John McCain is also on course for a clean sweep in all three Republican contests, beating Mike Huckabee.John McCain is also on course for a clean sweep in all three Republican contests, beating Mike Huckabee.
Mr Obama's victories, following on from a series of weekend wins, may give him the lead over Hillary Clinton for the first time in terms of delegate tally.Mr Obama's victories, following on from a series of weekend wins, may give him the lead over Hillary Clinton for the first time in terms of delegate tally.
Mrs Clinton must now focus her efforts on races in Ohio and Texas on 4 March.Mrs Clinton must now focus her efforts on races in Ohio and Texas on 4 March.
Speaking to cheering supporters at an election night rally in Wisconsin, which is next to hold its primary on 19 February, Mr Obama welcomed the results.Speaking to cheering supporters at an election night rally in Wisconsin, which is next to hold its primary on 19 February, Mr Obama welcomed the results.
"The change we seek swept through Chesapeake and over the Potomac. We won the state of Maryland. We won the Commonwealth of Virginia."The change we seek swept through Chesapeake and over the Potomac. We won the state of Maryland. We won the Commonwealth of Virginia.
"And though we won in Washington DC, this movement won't stop until there's change in Washington DC - and tonight we're on our way.""And though we won in Washington DC, this movement won't stop until there's change in Washington DC - and tonight we're on our way."
'Fired up''Fired up'
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.
But according to the Associated Press (AP) news agency, Mr Obama has now edged into the lead when both pledged delegates, whose vote is determined by the result of the primary in their state, and super delegates, who can choose whom to back, are counted.But according to the Associated Press (AP) news agency, Mr Obama has now edged into the lead when both pledged delegates, whose vote is determined by the result of the primary in their state, and super delegates, who can choose whom to back, are counted.
We are approaching the end of the first half of this election on quite an upswing John McCain In pictures: Potomac primaryPrimary may prove pivotalElections come to Culpeper At a campaign rally in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday night, Mrs Clinton gave a forward-looking speech, saying her message would "sweep across Texas in the next three weeks".We are approaching the end of the first half of this election on quite an upswing John McCain In pictures: Potomac primaryPrimary may prove pivotalElections come to Culpeper At a campaign rally in El Paso, Texas, on Tuesday night, Mrs Clinton gave a forward-looking speech, saying her message would "sweep across Texas in the next three weeks".
"I'm tested, I'm ready, let's make it happen," she told supporters."I'm tested, I'm ready, let's make it happen," she told supporters.
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.
Meanwhile, Mr McCain told a rally in Alexandria, Virginia: "We have come a long way in this campaign, and we have had our ups and downs.Meanwhile, Mr McCain told a rally in Alexandria, Virginia: "We have come a long way in this campaign, and we have had our ups and downs.
"But as luck, that product of opportunity and industry, would have it we are approaching the end of the first half of this election on quite an upswing.""But as luck, that product of opportunity and industry, would have it we are approaching the end of the first half of this election on quite an upswing."
Borrowing one of Mr Obama's regular campaign slogans, he promised supporters: "I am fired up and ready to go."Borrowing one of Mr Obama's regular campaign slogans, he promised supporters: "I am fired up and ready to go."
With results counted in almost all of Virginia's precincts, Mr McCain led by 50% to Mr Huckabee's 41%.With results counted in almost all of Virginia's precincts, Mr McCain led by 50% to Mr Huckabee's 41%.
Mrs Clinton is looking to the big states of Ohio and Texas in MarchMrs Clinton is looking to the big states of Ohio and Texas in March
In the District of Columbia, Mr McCain took 67% of the Republican vote to 17% for Mr Huckabee, with almost all the votes counted. Congressman Ron Paul took 8%.In the District of Columbia, Mr McCain took 67% of the Republican vote to 17% for Mr Huckabee, with almost all the votes counted. Congressman Ron Paul took 8%.
Mr McCain's victories mean he extends his significant lead in terms of the number of delegates who will vote for him at the party's national convention.Mr McCain's victories mean he extends his significant lead in terms of the number of delegates who will vote for him at the party's national convention.
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.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 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 said he has no intention of pulling out.
Exit polls suggest he won the support of very conservative voters in Virginia by nearly three to one, 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 three to one, while Mr McCain was backed by somewhat conservative and moderate Republicans.
Halfway thereHalfway there
In Virginia, Mr Obama was leading by 64% to Mrs Clinton's 35%, with almost all precincts reporting.In Virginia, Mr Obama was leading by 64% to Mrs Clinton's 35%, with almost all precincts reporting.

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)
His margin of victory was even greater in Washington DC, where he led by 75% to 24% with almost all the votes counted.

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)
His margin of victory was even greater in Washington DC, where he led by 75% to 24% with almost all the votes counted.
Virginia was the biggest prize with 83 delegates up for grabs, of which 50 went to Obama, according to AP. Maryland has 70 and Washington DC 15 to be split between the pair. Virginia was the biggest prize with 83 delegates up for grabs, of which 50 went to Obama, according to AP. Maryland has 70 and Washington DC has 15 to be split between the pair.
Analysts suggested the most significant aspect of Mr Obama's success, which had been expected based on polling, was his broadening appeal across different demographic groups.Analysts suggested the most significant aspect of Mr Obama's success, which had been expected based on polling, was his broadening appeal across different demographic groups.
Exit polls conducted for AP in Virginia suggested Mr Obama had won the support of two-thirds of men and almost six in 10 women.Exit polls conducted for AP 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 and Latino 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 and Latino voters.
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 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.
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 commentsElection at a glanceNEXT 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 commentsElection at a glance
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.