Washington - Barack Obama won North Carolina's Democratic
presidential primary on Tuesday, while rival Hillary Clinton appeared
close to victory in Indiana.
All major television networks projected Obama's North Carolina
victory immediately when polls closed at 7:30 pm (2330 GMT), based on
exit polls. With 14 per cent of precincts reporting, Obama led 64 per
cent to 36 per cent.
In Indiana, Clinton was leading by 54 per cent to 46 per cent over
Obama with more than 50 per cent of precincts reporting, but only CBS
News was prepared to call the state for Clinton.
A split decision by voters had been expected in the two largest
states left after four months of voting in the Democratic nomination
contest. Both sides had played down expectations of landing a knock-
out blow.
Obama was favoured in North Carolina, a southern state more than
30 per cent of voters were African American. Clinton was leading in
the Midwestern state of Indiana, which has a large population of
working-class white voters who more often favour the former first
lady.
Obama's chief strategist David Axelrod said that North Carolina
represented 'a meaningful victory (that) continues our momentum to
the nomination.'
In the quest for the 2,025 delegates needed to capture the
Democratic nomination, Obama currently leads by 1,743 to 1,606 for
Clinton, according to a count by website realclearpolitics.com. North
Carolina has 115 and Indiana 72 delegates up for grabs.
With just 200 delegates left in the six electoral contests
remaining after Tuesday, both campaigns have turned to persuading
nearly 300 undecided super-delegates - Democratic elected officials
and party leaders - who could still potentially swing the nomination
in either candidate's favour.
The high cost of petrol in the United States had dominated much of
the discussion as Obama and Clinton crisscrossed the states in the
final days.
Clinton has lobbied for a federal petrol tax holiday over the
three summer months, a move Obama has called a political 'gimmick'
that would save voters little money.
USA
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