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Pennsylvania votes in key contest Pennsylvania votes in key contest
(10 minutes later)
Democrats in the state of Pennsylvania have begun voting in a critical battle between White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.Democrats in the state of Pennsylvania have begun voting in a critical battle between White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
The state could be a decisive test in what has become an increasingly bitter fight for the Democratic nomination.The state could be a decisive test in what has become an increasingly bitter fight for the Democratic nomination.
While Mrs Clinton is expected to win, analysts say she needs a convincing victory, ideally with a double-digit lead, to keep her campaign alive.While Mrs Clinton is expected to win, analysts say she needs a convincing victory, ideally with a double-digit lead, to keep her campaign alive.
The latest polls show her ahead by between 7% and 10% in the state.The latest polls show her ahead by between 7% and 10% in the state.
A Zogby survey released on Tuesday showed Mrs Clinton leading Mr Obama by 51% to 41%, while an InsiderAdvantage poll had her on 49%, with him on 42%.A Zogby survey released on Tuesday showed Mrs Clinton leading Mr Obama by 51% to 41%, while an InsiderAdvantage poll had her on 49%, with him on 42%.
If I'm the president, we will attack Iran... Hillary Clinton, asked what she would do if Iran attacked Israel Justin Webb's blogWagnerian dramaIf I'm the president, we will attack Iran... Hillary Clinton, asked what she would do if Iran attacked Israel Justin Webb's blogWagnerian drama
Polling stations opened at 0700 (1100 GMT), with results expected soon after they close at 2000 (0000 GMT).Polling stations opened at 0700 (1100 GMT), with results expected soon after they close at 2000 (0000 GMT).
With four million registered Democrats, and 158 pledged delegates to the Democratic Party's nominating convention in August, Pennsylvania is the last of the big states to hold a primary.With four million registered Democrats, and 158 pledged delegates to the Democratic Party's nominating convention in August, Pennsylvania is 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 most of the big state contests.Although Mrs Clinton is behind in the delegate count and in the total votes cast, she has won most of the big state contests.
And the white working class voters who have formed the backbone of her support so far are a significant constituency in the state.And the white working class voters who have formed the backbone of her support so far are a significant constituency in the state.
DEMOCRATIC DELEGATES Barack Obama: Pledged delegates: 1,415Super-delegates: 233Total: 1,648 Hillary Clinton: Pledged delegates: 1,251Super-delegates: 258Total: 1,509 Source: AP estimates on 22 April Q&A: US election delegatesPennsylvania voters' viewsDEMOCRATIC DELEGATES Barack Obama: Pledged delegates: 1,415Super-delegates: 233Total: 1,648 Hillary Clinton: Pledged delegates: 1,251Super-delegates: 258Total: 1,509 Source: AP estimates on 22 April Q&A: US election delegatesPennsylvania voters' views
With the delegates split in proportion with the vote, neither candidate is expected to win sufficient pledged delegates to seal the nomination in the remaining primaries, and the two are courting 800 or so unelected "super-delegates".With the delegates split in proportion with the vote, neither candidate is expected to win sufficient pledged delegates to seal the nomination in the remaining primaries, and the two are courting 800 or so unelected "super-delegates".
Pennsylvania provides a key test for Mrs Clinton's argument - which she hopes will sway the super-delegates - that only she will be able to secure wins in critical large states come November's presidential election.Pennsylvania provides a key test for Mrs Clinton's argument - which she hopes will sway the super-delegates - that only she will be able to secure wins in critical large states come November's presidential election.
The BBC's North America editor, Justin Webb, says the state's voters 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.The BBC's North America editor, Justin Webb, says the state's voters 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.
'Sabre-rattling''Sabre-rattling'
On a TV talk show on Tuesday morning, Mrs Clinton predicted victory but insisted that the margin did not matter. Instead, she said, if Mr Obama failed to win it would call into question "his ability to win the big states".On a TV talk show on Tuesday morning, Mrs Clinton predicted victory but insisted that the margin did not matter. Instead, she said, if Mr Obama failed to win it would call into question "his ability to win the big states".
Voters in Philadelphia voice their views on Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton's latest campaign advert
Mr Obama conceded that his rival "has to be heavily favoured to win" in Pennsylvania, but dismissed the big-state argument, saying there was "no chance" of the Democrats losing New York or California in the presidential election, no matter who the candidate was.Mr Obama conceded that his rival "has to be heavily favoured to win" in Pennsylvania, but dismissed the big-state argument, saying there was "no chance" of the Democrats losing New York or California in the presidential election, no matter who the candidate was.
A row erupted when Mrs Clinton was asked how she would respond if Iran launched a nuclear attack on Israel. She replied that: "If I'm the president, we will attack Iran... we would be able to totally obliterate them.A row erupted when Mrs Clinton was asked how she would respond if Iran launched a nuclear attack on Israel. She replied that: "If I'm the president, we will attack Iran... we would be able to totally obliterate them.
"That's a terrible thing to say, but those people who run Iran need to understand that, because that perhaps will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic," she told TV channel ABC."That's a terrible thing to say, but those people who run Iran need to understand that, because that perhaps will deter them from doing something that would be reckless, foolish and tragic," she told TV channel ABC.
In response, Mr Obama said: "Using words like 'obliterate' - it doesn't actually produce good results, and so I'm not interested in sabre-rattling."In response, Mr Obama said: "Using words like 'obliterate' - it doesn't actually produce good results, and so I'm not interested in sabre-rattling."
He said only that Iran should know he would respond "forcefully" to an attack on any US ally.He said only that Iran should know he would respond "forcefully" to an attack on any US ally.
'Politics of fear''Politics of fear'
Foreign affairs loomed large in the final hours of campaigning, with the Obama camp accusing Mrs Clinton of trading in the "politics of fear".Foreign affairs loomed large in the final hours of campaigning, with the Obama camp accusing Mrs Clinton of trading in the "politics of fear".
Mr Obama leads nationally, but is trailing in PennsylvaniaMr Obama leads nationally, but is trailing in Pennsylvania
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."