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 07 September 2008 02:57 BST

Obama inches towards Democrat nomination

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 12:30
Barack Obama says he has majority of pledged delegates and that Democrat nomination for US president is "within reach"
Barack Obama has declared himself confident of securing the Democratic nomination for US president.

The Illinois senator is close to gaining a majority of pledged delegates ahead of the party's convention in August.

But his contest rival Hillary Clinton has refused to give up after a resounding win in the Kentucky primary.

Mr Obama, who has been attributed victory in last night's Oregon primary by American media, is thought to need only 70 more delegates to reach the magic number of 2,026.

He is understood to be hopeful of securing the nomination via superdelegates – party officials with a free vote - yet to support either candidate.

The 45-year-old told supporters in Iowa, where in January he won the opening caucus, that his nomination was "within reach".

"[Tonight] we have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States," he said.

In a message to former first lady Mrs Clinton, Mr Obama added: "The road here has been long, and that is partly because we’ve travelled it with one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for this office.

"In her 35 years of public service, senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has never given up on her fight for the American people, and tonight I congratulate her on her victory in Kentucky."

Addressing a rally in Louisville, Kentucky, Mrs Clinton remained defiant.

"I'm going to keep making our case until we have a nominee - whoever she may be," she told supporters.

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