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Clinton 'wins key Democrat vote' Clinton 'wins key Democrat vote'
(40 minutes later)
Hillary Clinton has beaten Democratic rival Barack Obama in a critical vote in the US state of Pennsylvania, according to early results. Hillary Clinton has beaten Democratic rival Barack Obama in a critical vote in the US state of Pennsylvania, according to partial results.
However, it is not yet clear how large her margin of victory will be. Analysts say she needs a big win to keep her campaign alive, but she disputes that.However, it is not yet clear how large her margin of victory will be. Analysts say she needs a big win to keep her campaign alive, but she disputes that.
Mr Obama had predicted he would lose but said he had made big progress in reducing Mrs Clinton's initial lead.Mr Obama had predicted he would lose but said he had made big progress in reducing Mrs Clinton's initial lead.
With 21% of returns counted, Mrs Clinton leads Mr Obama by 53% to 47%. With 56% of returns counted, Mrs Clinton leads Mr Obama by 54% to 46%.
She is due to hold an election night rally in Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama is expected to address supporters in Indiana, one of the next states to hold a primary vote.She is due to hold an election night rally in Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama is expected to address supporters in Indiana, one of the next states to hold a primary vote.
Exit polls suggest Mrs Clinton won by taking the votes of blue-collar workers, women and white men, the Associated Press reported. The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says Mrs Clinton has gained a clear victory that keeps her presidential hopes alive.
While her win is not enough to turn the tables on her rival, who still retains the overall lead and has much more cash to spend, it suggests her perseverance and resilience is paying off, our correspondent adds.
Exit polls for US media suggest Mrs Clinton won by taking the votes of blue-collar workers, women and white men, the Associated Press reported.
Women - who have tended to favour Mrs Clinton - made up 60% of Democratic voters in the state, according to the exit polls.Women - who have tended to favour Mrs Clinton - made up 60% of Democratic voters in the state, according to the exit polls.
Hillary Clinton's threat to IranHillary Clinton's threat to Iran
Mrs Clinton also won the support of six out of 10 of those who decided who to support within the last week - a period during which campaign rhetoric has sharpened.
The economy once again emerged as the most important issue for voters, with more than 80% of those surveyed saying the nation was already in a recession.The economy once again emerged as the most important issue for voters, with more than 80% of those surveyed saying the nation was already in a recession.
In the final hours of campaigning, Mrs Clinton tried to play down the idea she needed a large margin of victory, saying: "I think a win under any circumstances is a terrific achievement."In the final hours of campaigning, Mrs Clinton tried to play down the idea she needed a large margin of victory, saying: "I think a win under any circumstances is a terrific achievement."
And she highlighted Mr Obama's significant edge in terms of spending, asking: "Maybe the question ought to be, why can't he close the deal with his extraordinary financial advantage, why can't he win in a state like this, if that is the way it turns out to be?"And she highlighted Mr Obama's significant edge in terms of spending, asking: "Maybe the question ought to be, why can't he close the deal with his extraordinary financial advantage, why can't he win in a state like this, if that is the way it turns out to be?"
Mrs Clinton earlier emphasised what she has said is a strength - her leadership ability and foreign affairs credentials.Mrs Clinton earlier emphasised what she has said is a strength - her leadership ability and foreign affairs credentials.
As the candidates appeared on the US morning talk show circuit, Mrs Clinton was asked how she would respond if Iran launched a nuclear attack on Israel, and replied with a stark warning. As the contenders appeared on the US morning talk show circuit, Mrs Clinton was asked how she would respond if Iran launched a nuclear attack on Israel, and replied with a stark warning.
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 In pictures: Pennsylvania primaryJustin Webb's blogWagnerian dramaPennsylvania 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 In pictures: Pennsylvania primaryJustin Webb's blogWagnerian dramaPennsylvania voters' views
"If I'm the president, we will attack Iran... we would be able to totally obliterate them," she told TV network ABC."If I'm the president, we will attack Iran... we would be able to totally obliterate them," she told TV network 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.""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."
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.
The US fears Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and could use them against Israel. Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for power generation.The US fears Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons, and could use them against Israel. Iran insists its nuclear programme is solely for power generation.
Last big stateLast big state
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.
Philadelphia residents discuss the Democratic presidential hopefulsIn picturesPhiladelphia residents discuss the Democratic presidential hopefulsIn pictures
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 Pennsylvania. And the white working class voters who have formed the backbone of her support so far make up a significant constituency in Pennsylvania.
With the delegates split in proportion to 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 to 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. Mrs Clinton's argument - which she hopes will sway the super-delegates - is that only she will be able to secure wins in critical large states come November's presidential election.
Clinton 'favourite'Clinton 'favourite'
On TV on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton predicted victory, by whatever margin, and said if Mr Obama failed to win it would call into question "his ability to win the big states". On TV on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton predicted her own victory and said that if Mr Obama failed to win Pennsylvania it would call into question "his ability to win the big states".
Mr Obama said he had made progress against the favourite, Mrs ClintonMr Obama said he had made progress against the favourite, Mrs Clinton
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.
The Republican Party also held a primary in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with presumptive nominee John McCain set to take all the delegates on offer.The Republican Party also held a primary in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, with presumptive nominee John McCain set to take all the delegates on offer.
Senator McCain spent the day in Ohio - expected to be a key battleground state in November - where he spoke of the need to create new opportunities to replace lost blue-collar jobs.Senator McCain spent the day in Ohio - expected to be a key battleground state in November - where he spoke of the need to create new opportunities to replace lost blue-collar jobs.