This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7240399.stm

The article has changed 36 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 29 Version 30
Obama wins primaries clean sweep Obama wins primaries clean sweep
(about 1 hour later)
Barack Obama has won the Democratic presidential primaries in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia by wide margins. Illinois Senator Barack Obama looks set to overtake his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
John McCain is also on course for a clean sweep in all three Republican contests, beating Mike Huckabee. In the latest round of primaries, Mr Obama has clinched Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Mr Obama's wins are set to put him ahead of Hillary Clinton in the race for delegates to select the party's candidate for the presidential poll. But neither has secured enough party delegates to secure the nomination to contest November's presidential poll.
Mrs Clinton must now focus her efforts on races in Ohio and Texas on 4 March. For the Republicans, Senator John McCain is on course to win all three races, beating rival Mike Huckabee.
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. With eight consecutive primary wins behind him, Mr Obama is beginning to look formidable and the manner of his victory on Tuesday looks ominous for Mrs Clinton, says the BBC's North America editor, Justin Webb.
"The change we seek swept through Chesapeake and over the Potomac. We won the state of Maryland. We won the Commonwealth of Virginia. Halfway there
"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." "Tonight we're on our way," Mr Obama told supporters in Wisconsin, which will hold the next primary on 19 February.
LATEST RESULTS Democrats DC: Obama 75%; Clinton 24%Maryland: Obama 60%; Clinton 37%Virginia: Obama 64%; Clinton 36%
Republicans DC: McCain 68%; Huckabee 17%Maryland: McCain 54%; Huckabee 30%Virginia: McCain 50%; Huckabee 41% Projections from AP based on partial results class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7224970.stm">Q&A: Election delegates 		Mrs Clinton, who has recently lost a number of key staff, indicated she would be focusing on the races in Ohio and Texas in March as her best hope to retake the lead.
Each Democratic candidate is about halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the party's national convention in August. LATEST RESULTS Democrats DC: Obama 75.2%; Clinton 24%Maryland: Obama 60.2%; Clinton 36.4%Virginia: Obama 63.6%; Clinton 35.5%
Republicans DC: McCain 67.7%; Huckabee 16.6%Maryland: McCain 54.7%; Huckabee 29.8%Virginia: McCain 50%; Huckabee 40.8% Source: AP based on partial results
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're going to sweep across Texas in the next three weeks," she said, making no mention of the three contests she lost.
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. Each Democratic candidate is about halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the party's national convention in August.
We are approaching the end of the first half of this election on quite an upswing John McCain class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7242093.stm">In pictures: Potomac primary class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7242176.stm">Clinton choices narrow class="" href="/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/7240873.stm">Elections come to Culpeper With most of the Tuesday's votes counted, Mr Obama has edged into the lead with 1,223 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,198 delegates, according to the Associated Press news agency.
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. Mrs Clinton's deputy campaign manager, Mike Henry, reportedly stepped down on Monday, in a shake-up coming only a day after her campaign manager left.
"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." Meanwhile Mr McCain, who holds a strong lead over his Republican rival Mike Huckabee, told supporters he was "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." Significant lead
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%.
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 68% of the Republican vote to 17% for Mr Huckabee, with almost all the votes counted. Congressman Ron Paul took 8%.
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
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.
Mrs Clinton is looking to the big states of Ohio and Texas in March
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 there Broad appeal
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 35.5%, with almost all precincts reporting.
His margin of victory was even greater in Washington DC, where he led by 75% to 24% with almost all the votes counted.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 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.
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.
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.
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 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. Analysts suggested the most significant aspect of Mr Obama's success was his broadening appeal across different demographic groups.
The contests follow Mr Obama's weekend victories in Washington state, Louisiana, Nebraska, Maine and the US Virgin Islands. 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.
Mrs Clinton was given a potential boost on Tuesday with the endorsement of former astronaut and former Ohio Senator John Glenn. Mr Obama also made gains with women voters, who have been a core constituency for Mrs Clinton in past contests, and with white men and Latino voters.
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. And nine in 10 black voters in Virginia backed the Illinois senator, an even bigger margin than in previous primaries.
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.