Obama victorious in Maine
Monday, 11 Feb 2008 10:14
Barack Obama wins Democratic caucus in Maine.
Barack Obama has put increased pressure on rival Hillary Clinton after winning the Democratic caucus in Maine.
The Illinois senator's victory crowns a successful weekend for his campaign, after wins in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington state and the US Virgin Islands put him almost neck-and-neck with Ms Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination.
Her victories in 12 states gives her 1,136 delegates - just over halfway to the 2,025 needed for victory at the Democratic party convention - while Mr Obama's wins in 20 states leaves him just behind the former First Lady with 1,108.
Mr Obama's weekend success puts him in a strong position ahead of the so-called 'Potomac Primary' on Tuesday - a series of votes so-named for the river that winds through Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.
"The Clintons are far better known and have a political machine that's been honed over two decades," said Mr Obama's campaign manager David Blouffe after the Maine victory.
"But the more voters get to know Obama and his message of change, the more they support him, which bodes well for the upcoming primaries."
In the Republican camp, frontrunner John McCain suffered an underwhelming weekend, after losing to Mike Huckabee in Kansas and Louisiana.
Though Arizona senator McCain has a clear lead of 719 delegates to Mr Huckabee's 234, president George Bush was moved this weekend to admit the Grand Old Party's (GOP) core voters may need to be further assured of Mr McCain's conservative credentials.
"I think that if John's the nominee, he has got some convincing to do to convince people that he is a solid conservative," he told Fox News. 