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US poll battle moves to Wisconsin US poll battle moves to Wisconsin
(28 minutes later)
The White House race is continuing in Wisconsin as Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton seek a boost in their close battle for the party nomination.The White House race is continuing in Wisconsin as Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton seek a boost in their close battle for the party nomination.
Polls opened despite freezing temperatures, with officials expecting a big turnout. Turnout at the polls has been reported to be high in some places, despite below freezing temperatures.
Republicans are also holding their own contest, but front-runner John McCain is widely expected to win. Republicans are also holding their own contest in the state, but front-runner John McCain is widely expected to win.
A Democratic caucus will be held in Hawaii, while Republicans in Washington state vote in a primary. A Democratic caucus will be held in Hawaii, while Republicans in Washington state are to vote in a primary.
Mr Obama is expected to win in Hawaii, where the Illinois senator was born.Mr Obama is expected to win in Hawaii, where the Illinois senator was born.
Polls close in Wisconsin at 2100 (0200 GMT Wednesday) and in Washington state at 2000 (0400 GMT Wednesday).Polls close in Wisconsin at 2100 (0200 GMT Wednesday) and in Washington state at 2000 (0400 GMT Wednesday).
Voting in Hawaii does not begin until 1900 on Tuesday (0500 GMT Wednesday). The caucuses in Hawaii do not begin until 1900 on Tuesday (0500 GMT Wednesday).
Seeking momentumSeeking momentum
Wisconsin's 74 Democratic delegates are at stake, while 20 delegates are being picked in Hawaii. Wisconsin's 74 pledged Democratic delegates are at stake, while 20 delegates are being picked in Hawaii.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton13 states, 1,218 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama21 states, 1,281 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, 245 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain15 states, 903 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state
Mitt Romney11 states, 253 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 Clinton13 states, 1,218 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama21 states, 1,281 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, 245 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain15 states, 903 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state
Mitt Romney11 states, 253 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)
Both campaigns have tried to play down expectations going into the vote in Wisconsin, a state which has many of the white working-class voters who have been seen as Mrs Clinton's core support base.
The result in Wisconsin will not be a killer blow to either side, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb.The result in Wisconsin will not be a killer blow to either side, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb.
But a strong win for Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama could set them on the course to eventual victory, he adds. But a strong win for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama could set them on the course to eventual victory, he adds.
For Mrs Clinton in particular, a good showing might allow her campaign to find its feet again after a string of recent losses.For Mrs Clinton in particular, a good showing might allow her campaign to find its feet again after a string of recent losses.
For Mr Obama, success would add to the growing sense that he is now the front-runner, our correspondent says.For Mr Obama, success would add to the growing sense that he is now the front-runner, our correspondent says.
Mrs Clinton is already looking ahead to March's bigger contests in Ohio and Texas, seen by analysts as crucial to her credibility as a candidate.Mrs Clinton is already looking ahead to March's bigger contests in Ohio and Texas, seen by analysts as crucial to her credibility as a candidate.
"We need solutions - that's what this election should be about," Mrs Clinton said during a round table with voters in Parma, Ohio."We need solutions - that's what this election should be about," Mrs Clinton said during a round table with voters in Parma, Ohio.
"It shouldn't be about speeches," she added, in an apparent reference to her main rival's powers of rhetoric."It shouldn't be about speeches," she added, in an apparent reference to her main rival's powers of rhetoric.
She said she believed she was better placed to take on the Republicans "when it comes to national security".She said she believed she was better placed to take on the Republicans "when it comes to national security".
We've been battle-tested during the course of this primary Barack Obama
Mr Obama told NBC's Today show that he was confident about winning in Wisconsin but added that "you never take it for granted".Mr Obama told NBC's Today show that he was confident about winning in Wisconsin but added that "you never take it for granted".
Responding to the suggestion he was not heavyweight enough to fight the Republicans, he said: Responding to the suggestion he was not heavyweight enough to fight the Republicans, he said: "First of all, I've had to go up against the Clinton machine.
"First of all, I've had to go up against the Clinton machine. And it's not as if they're playing tiddlywinks, right? So we've been battle-tested during the course of this primary." "And it's not as if they're playing tiddlywinks, right? So we've been battle-tested during the course of this primary."
Mr Obama currently holds a slight lead over Mrs Clinton, with 1,280 delegates to her 1,218. It will take 2,025 delegates to secure the Democratic nomination at the party's national convention this summer.
McCain favouriteMcCain favourite
On the Republican side, the race between John McCain and Mike Huckabee continues. On the Republican side, the race between Mr McCain and Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, continues.
Mike Huckabee can still count on a share of the voteMike Huckabee can still count on a share of the vote
Mr McCain, who is well ahead in delegates and has the support of the party establishment, is expected to win.Mr McCain, who is well ahead in delegates and has the support of the party establishment, is expected to win.
"My friends we want to win today," he told a rally of about 150 supporters in Milwaukee. "My friends we want to win today," he told a rally of about 150 supporters in Milwaukee. "With your help today we will take another step."
"With your help today we will take another step." On Monday, former President George Bush Senior endorsed Mr McCain in his bid to be the Republicans' presidential nominee and dismissed criticism of his record as "grossly unfair".
On Monday, former President George Bush Senior endorsed Mr McCain in his bid to be the Republicans' presidential nominee. The Washington Republican primary is the second half of a two-part nominating contest. The state's Republicans held a caucus on 9 February, which was narrowly won by Mr McCain.
The Washington Republican primary is the second half of a two-tiered nominating contest as the state's Republicans held a caucus on 9 February, which was narrowly won by Republican front-runner John McCain. Republicans will only allocate about half their delegates on the basis of the primary - the rest were decided earlier in the caucus.
Republicans only allocate about half of their delegates on the basis of the primary - the rest were decided earlier in the caucus. Washington state's Democrats are also holding a primary but their delegates to the party's summer nominating convention have already been chosen on the basis of caucuses.
The state's Democrats are also holding a primary but delegates to the party's summer nominating convention have already been chosen on the basis of caucuses.