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Final push for Pennsylvania vote Final push for Pennsylvania vote
(about 2 hours later)
US presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have spent a final day of campaigning ahead of the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania.US presidential contenders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have spent a final day of campaigning ahead of the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania.
The state is a crucial test in what has become an increasingly bitter battle for the Democratic nomination.The state is a crucial test in what has become an increasingly bitter battle for the Democratic nomination.
While Mrs Clinton is expected to win, analysts say she needs a convincing victory to keep her campaign alive.While Mrs Clinton is expected to win, analysts say she needs a convincing victory to keep her campaign alive.
The last-minute campaigning has been marked by a row about Mrs Clinton's final campaign advert. The last-minute campaigning has been marked by a row about Mrs Clinton's latest campaign advert.
There are four million registered Democrats in Pennsylvania, the last of the big states to hold a primary.There are four million registered Democrats in Pennsylvania, the last of the big states to hold a primary.
Although Mrs Clinton is behind in the delegate count and in the total votes cast, she has won all the other big state contests.Although Mrs Clinton is behind in the delegate count and in the total votes cast, she has won all the other big state contests.
'Politics of fear''Politics of fear'
As the Pennsylvanian Democrats go to the polls, they have the power to keep Mrs Clinton's White House dream alive by giving her a substantial victory, to do it further damage by delivering a close result, or to destroy it by handing a win to Mr Obama, reports the BBC's Justin Webb.As the Pennsylvanian Democrats go to the polls, they have the power to keep Mrs Clinton's White House dream alive by giving her a substantial victory, to do it further damage by delivering a close result, or to destroy it by handing a win to Mr Obama, reports the BBC's Justin Webb.
DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES Barack Obama: Pledged delegates: 1,414Super-delegates: 231Total: 1,645 Hillary Clinton: Pledged delegates: 1,250Super-delegates: 257Total: 1,507 Source: AP estimates on 21 April Q&A: US election delegatesPennsylvania voters' viewsDEMOCRATIC DELEGATES Barack Obama: Pledged delegates: 1,414Super-delegates: 231Total: 1,645 Hillary Clinton: Pledged delegates: 1,250Super-delegates: 257Total: 1,507 Source: AP estimates on 21 April Q&A: US election delegatesPennsylvania voters' views
In the hours before the polling stations opened, Mrs Clinton was accused of trading in the "politics of fear".In the hours before the polling stations opened, Mrs Clinton was accused of trading in the "politics of fear".
Her final campaign advert featured shots of historic world events such as Pearl Harbour and the fall of the Berlin Wall, with clips of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Hurricane Katrina victims.Her final campaign advert featured shots of historic world events such as Pearl Harbour and the fall of the Berlin Wall, with clips of al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden and Hurricane Katrina victims.
The advert concluded with the line: "You need to be ready for anything".The advert concluded with the line: "You need to be ready for anything".
Mrs Clinton's chief strategist Geoff Garin said it was a positive advert.Mrs Clinton's chief strategist Geoff Garin said it was a positive advert.
"It states why Hillary Clinton is the right choice to be president," he said. "We're at a moment where we need a president who's got the strength and knowledge to take on very tough challenges.""It states why Hillary Clinton is the right choice to be president," he said. "We're at a moment where we need a president who's got the strength and knowledge to take on very tough challenges."
But Bill Burton, from Mr Obama's team, said: "We already have a president who plays the politics of fear, and we don't need another."But Bill Burton, from Mr Obama's team, said: "We already have a president who plays the politics of fear, and we don't need another."
Swift resolutionSwift resolution
Mr Obama has spent heavily in Pennsylvania - he had a $42m war chest for April while Mrs Clinton had $9m.Mr Obama has spent heavily in Pennsylvania - he had a $42m war chest for April while Mrs Clinton had $9m.
The candidates are now so close that neither is expected to win sufficient delegates to the party's national convention in August to seal the nomination, and are courting 800 or so unelected "super-delegates".The candidates are now so close that neither is expected to win sufficient delegates to the party's national convention in August to seal the nomination, and are courting 800 or so unelected "super-delegates".
Barack Obama has spent more money than his rival in courting PennsylvaniaBarack Obama has spent more money than his rival in courting Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania provides a key test for Mrs Clinton's argument that despite Mr Obama's overall lead, only she will be able to secure wins in critical large states come the presidential election.Pennsylvania provides a key test for Mrs Clinton's argument that despite Mr Obama's overall lead, only she will be able to secure wins in critical large states come the presidential election.
The state returns 158 delegates to the Democratic convention.The state returns 158 delegates to the Democratic convention.
There has been increasing pressure from senior Democrats for a swift resolution to the deadlock, fearing the prolonged battle will damage the eventual candidate's success against Republican John McCain.There has been increasing pressure from senior Democrats for a swift resolution to the deadlock, fearing the prolonged battle will damage the eventual candidate's success against Republican John McCain.
Over the weekend, Mrs Clinton hit out at Mr Obama after he said Mr McCain would make a better president than George W Bush.Over the weekend, Mrs Clinton hit out at Mr Obama after he said Mr McCain would make a better president than George W Bush.
"We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain, and I will be that nominee," she said."We need a nominee who will take on John McCain, not cheer on John McCain, and I will be that nominee," she said.
On a railway tour of the state, Mr Obama challenged Mrs Clinton's "slash-and-burn, say-anything, do-anything special interest-driven politics".On a railway tour of the state, Mr Obama challenged Mrs Clinton's "slash-and-burn, say-anything, do-anything special interest-driven politics".
"Trying to score cheap political points... doesn't make for good government," he said."Trying to score cheap political points... doesn't make for good government," he said.