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Clinton 'wins key Democrat vote' Clinton wins key Democratic vote
(20 minutes later)
Hillary Clinton has beaten Democratic rival Barack Obama in a critical vote in the US state of Pennsylvania.Hillary Clinton has beaten Democratic rival Barack Obama in a critical vote in the US state of Pennsylvania.
Speaking to cheering supporters, she said the American people deserved "a president who doesn't quit". She added: "Because of you, the tide is turning."Speaking to cheering supporters, she said the American people deserved "a president who doesn't quit". She added: "Because of you, the tide is turning."
Mrs Clinton still trails Mr Obama in terms of delegates but this victory keeps her campaign alive, analysts say.Mrs Clinton still trails Mr Obama in terms of delegates but this victory keeps her campaign alive, analysts say.
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 86% of returns counted, Mrs Clinton was leading Mr Obama by 55% to 45%. With 94% of returns counted, Mrs Clinton was leading Mr Obama by 55% to 45%.
No quittingNo quitting
The former first lady told cheering supporters at a victory rally in Philadelphia that she had beaten a "formidable opponent" who had outspent her three-to-one.The former first lady told cheering supporters at a victory rally in Philadelphia that she had beaten a "formidable opponent" who had outspent her three-to-one.
"Some people counted me out and said to drop out, but the American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit either," she said."Some people counted me out and said to drop out, but the American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit either," she said.
Hilllary Clinton : 'You know you can count on me' Hillary Clinton : 'You know you can count on me'
Mr Obama congratulated Mrs Clinton as he addressed a rally in Indiana, one of the next states to hold a primary vote, but also said his campaign had done better than expected in Pennsylvania.Mr Obama congratulated Mrs Clinton as he addressed a rally in Indiana, one of the next states to hold a primary vote, but also said his campaign had done better than expected in Pennsylvania.
"There were a lot of folks who didn't think we could make this a close race when it started," he said."There were a lot of folks who didn't think we could make this a close race when it started," he said.
"Six weeks later, we closed the gap. We rallied people of every age and race and background to our cause.""Six weeks later, we closed the gap. We rallied people of every age and race and background to our cause."
The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says Mrs Clinton has gained a clear victory that keeps her presidential hopes alive.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.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.
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 ahead of 22 April primary 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 ahead of 22 April primary In pictures: Pennsylvania primaryJustin Webb's blogWagnerian dramaPennsylvania voters' views
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.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.
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.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.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton emphasised what she has said is a strength - her leadership ability and foreign affairs credentials.Earlier on Tuesday, Mrs Clinton emphasised what she has said is a strength - her leadership ability and foreign affairs credentials.
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.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.
Mr Obama said he had made progress against the favourite, Mrs Clinton Barack Obama : 'New voters will lead Democrats to victory'
"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.
'Big state''Big state'
With four million registered Democrats, and 158 pledged delegates to the Democratic Party's nominating convention in August, Pennsylvania was 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 was the last of the big states to hold a primary.
href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_pennsylvania_holds_key_primary/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_pennsylvania_holds_key_primary/html/1.stm', '1208871533', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;">Philadelphia residents discuss the Democratic presidential hopefuls href="/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_pennsylvania_holds_key_primary/html/1.stm" onClick="window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/08/americas_pennsylvania_holds_key_primary/html/1.stm', '1208871533', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=500,height=400,left=312,top=100'); return false;" >In pictures Mr Obama said he had done better than expected against the favourite
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.
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".
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.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.
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".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 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 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.