Obama close to win despite Puerto Rico loss
Monday, 02 Jun 2008 09:36
Barack Obama inches away from claiming Democrat White House nomination despite Hillary Clinton's Puerto Rico primary win
Barack Obama is inching towards claiming the Democratic presidential nomination, despite losing the Puerto Rico primary to Hillary Clinton.
Ms Clinton gained two-thirds of the vote and 38 delegates in Sunday's ballot, but according to independent delegate counts Mr Obama has an unassailable lead.
The former first lady has however reiterated her wish to stay in the race until the party's summer convention and appealed to superdelegates to look to the popular vote.
She told supporters she was more likely to defeat Republican nominee-elect John McCain in a general election.
"In the final assessment I ask you to consider these questions," the New York senator said.
"Which candidate best represents the will of the people who voted in this historic election?"
Ms Clinton's campaign to become president of the United States suffered a blow on Saturday when the Democratic party rules and by-laws committee said only half of two controversial primary votes could be restored.
She had won in both Michigan and Florida, but the results were scrapped after the states held their primaries early.
Mr Obama is expected to declare himself the winner of the contest whatever the result in tomorrow's primaries in Montana and South Dakota, the last of the campaign season.