Barack Obama

- Democrat Barack Obama triumphs in South Carolina -
[no surprises there for me]

US presidential hopeful Barack Obama has secured a decisive win in the South Carolina primary election, as he bids to be the Democratic Party's candidate.

It was an overwhelming victory too - he finished with 55% of the vote, against 27% for Hillary Clinton and just 18% for John Edwards, who may now have to accept that his campaign is doomed.

The result is a boost for Mr Obama's campaign ahead of Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 24 states vote for who they want to run for US president.

Key to Mr Obama's victory was the support of African-American voters, who made up about half the electorate and four-fifths of whom supported him, according to exit poll data. About 17% supported Mrs Clinton. Surprisingly one fifth of the African-American voters supported Ms Hillary.

Mrs Clinton's campaign issued a statement saying she had called to congratulate Mr Obama and wish him well.

Former President Bill Clinton, who has been campaigning on behalf of his wife, told a rally in Missouri that Mr Obama had "won fair and square".

Polls in key states at stake on Super Tuesday show Hillary Clinton ahead.

My comment: Barack Obama wins as much as I expected, the polls had it dead right. From the reports I have read It looked as if it was a good clean fight between the candidates. Well done.

Vote for Hillary - You know it makes sense

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Romney secures Michigan victory

- Republican Mitt Romney secures Michigan victory -

Senator John McCain, who came second, congratulated Mr Romney, saying he had worked hard to ensure he won the vote.

Michigan did not figure in the race for the Democratic nomination because of a party dispute over scheduling. - [Comment: What’s all that about?].

The Democratic Party denied Michigan the right to send delegates to its convention - when the party's presidential candidate will be chosen - because the state party chose to hold its primary early.

Of the Democratic frontrunners, none campaigned in the state, and only Hillary Clinton had her name on the ballot.

She won a majority of the votes cast, but a substantial number went to the ballot listing for "uncommitted".

The campaigns for rivals Barack Obama and John Edwards had urged supporters to vote "uncommitted" to prevent Mrs Clinton seeming to make a clean sweep.

As the Michigan results came in, the Democratic candidates were taking part in a debate in Las Vegas, Nevada, where caucuses will be held on Saturday.

Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama promised to end their damaging dispute over racial politics.

Mr Obama spoke of the importance of coming together as a people, while Mrs Clinton said: "We're all family in the Democratic party."

[South Carolina on Saturday?].

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