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Last big primaries for Democrats Last big primaries for Democrats
(about 4 hours later)
Voters in two US states are taking part in the last major Democratic party primaries which help decide who will be the party's presidential nominee.Voters in two US states are taking part in the last major Democratic party primaries which help decide who will be the party's presidential nominee.
Barack Obama, who currently leads the race, and Hillary Clinton are battling it out in Indiana and North Carolina.Barack Obama, who currently leads the race, and Hillary Clinton are battling it out in Indiana and North Carolina.
Victories for Mr Obama would all but eliminate Mrs Clinton from the long nomination contest, observers say. Victories for Mr Obama would all but eliminate Mrs Clinton from the nomination contest, observers say.
But polls suggest the race may be close in Indiana, and Mrs Clinton is cutting Mr Obama's lead in North Carolina.But polls suggest the race may be close in Indiana, and Mrs Clinton is cutting Mr Obama's lead in North Carolina.
Mr Obama got a publicity boost on Monday in the form of an endorsement from the Hollywood actor, Tom Hanks.Mr Obama got a publicity boost on Monday in the form of an endorsement from the Hollywood actor, Tom Hanks.
He said the Illinois senator "has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us".He said the Illinois senator "has the integrity and the inspiration to unify us".
The atmosphere here is electric. It's the first election in my lifetime in which our state has been a determining factor in the primary season Diane Singleton, Bloomington, Indiana Democratic voters' viewsIn pictures: US primaries "As an official celebrity, I know my endorsement has just made your mind up for you," Mr Hanks joked.The atmosphere here is electric. It's the first election in my lifetime in which our state has been a determining factor in the primary season Diane Singleton, Bloomington, Indiana Democratic voters' viewsIn pictures: US primaries "As an official celebrity, I know my endorsement has just made your mind up for you," Mr Hanks joked.
Mr Obama leads the race in delegates ahead of the party's nominating convention in August by 1,745 to 1,608, according to an Associated Press count.Mr Obama leads the race in delegates ahead of the party's nominating convention in August by 1,745 to 1,608, according to an Associated Press count.
Early estimates suggested strong turnouts in both primaries on Tuesday.
Even before the polls opened at 0630 (1030 GMT) in North Carolina, nearly half a million people had cast early and absentee ballots - more than half the total number of votes cast in the primary in 2004.
'Sabre-rattling'
Correspondents say it is next to impossible in the remaining primaries for either candidate to cross the threshold of 2,025 delegates needed to win the nomination.Correspondents say it is next to impossible in the remaining primaries for either candidate to cross the threshold of 2,025 delegates needed to win the nomination.
This means the nearly 800 super-delegates - party officials and politicians - will have the final say.This means the nearly 800 super-delegates - party officials and politicians - will have the final say.
'Sabre-rattling'
"I feel good," Mr Obama told reporters as he visited a restaurant in Greenwood, Indiana, before the voting began."I feel good," Mr Obama told reporters as he visited a restaurant in Greenwood, Indiana, before the voting began.
"I think we've campaigned hard. I think it's going to be close. I'm seeing a lot of enthusiasm," he said."I think we've campaigned hard. I think it's going to be close. I'm seeing a lot of enthusiasm," he said.
Barack Obama wants to finish off the Clinton campaignBarack Obama wants to finish off the Clinton campaign
Mrs Clinton earlier refused to make any predictions as to the voting outcome. Mrs Clinton, who toured the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, refused to make any predictions as to the final outcome.
"We're just... looking to see what happens," she said on Monday. "Every race is filled with the unexpected," she said.
"Obviously we hope to do as well as we can." "You never know what's going to happen from day to day... I never make predictions."
Wooing those super-delegates, the former first lady has been saying she is the Democrats' best chance to beat the presumptive Republican candidate John McCain in November's presidential vote.Wooing those super-delegates, the former first lady has been saying she is the Democrats' best chance to beat the presumptive Republican candidate John McCain in November's presidential vote.
But Mr Obama has criticised Mrs Clinton for her stance on Iran.But Mr Obama has criticised Mrs Clinton for her stance on Iran.
He compared it to President George W Bush's "foreign policy of bluster and sabre-rattling and tough talk".He compared it to President George W Bush's "foreign policy of bluster and sabre-rattling and tough talk".
"It's not the language we need right now," he said."It's not the language we need right now," he said.
He also called her federal petrol tax suspension plan a "gimmick" that would "help big oil".He also called her federal petrol tax suspension plan a "gimmick" that would "help big oil".
Mrs Clinton has said she had no regrets about promising to "totally obliterate" Iran if it attacked Israel with nuclear weapons - a scenario that was put to her two weeks ago.Mrs Clinton has said she had no regrets about promising to "totally obliterate" Iran if it attacked Israel with nuclear weapons - a scenario that was put to her two weeks ago.
"Why would I have any regrets?" she asked on ABC television."Why would I have any regrets?" she asked on ABC television.
"I am asked a question about what I would do if Iran attacked our ally, a country that many of us have a great deal of, you know, connection with and feeling for.""I am asked a question about what I would do if Iran attacked our ally, a country that many of us have a great deal of, you know, connection with and feeling for."
She also defended her proposal to suspend petrol taxes for the summer, which she said a windfall tax on oil companies would finance.She also defended her proposal to suspend petrol taxes for the summer, which she said a windfall tax on oil companies would finance.
"We can't just plan for the future, we have to help people in the here and now... We need to go after the oil companies," she said."We can't just plan for the future, we have to help people in the here and now... We need to go after the oil companies," she said.
Final eight contestsFinal eight contests
Mr Obama's campaign was dealt a blow first by Mrs Clinton's convincing win in Pennsylvania two weeks ago and then by provocative remarks from his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.Mr Obama's campaign was dealt a blow first by Mrs Clinton's convincing win in Pennsylvania two weeks ago and then by provocative remarks from his former pastor, Jeremiah Wright.
Mrs Clinton is hoping to persuade Democrats she is the right candidateMrs Clinton is hoping to persuade Democrats she is the right candidate
He narrowly defeated Mrs Clinton in Sunday's caucus in the tiny Pacific territory of Guam.He narrowly defeated Mrs Clinton in Sunday's caucus in the tiny Pacific territory of Guam.
Because of the way the Democratic Party distributes the vote, each candidate won two delegates.Because of the way the Democratic Party distributes the vote, each candidate won two delegates.
Mr Obama will now be hoping for wins in both Indiana and North Carolina to deal Mrs Clinton's revived campaign a knockout blow, analysts say.Mr Obama will now be hoping for wins in both Indiana and North Carolina to deal Mrs Clinton's revived campaign a knockout blow, analysts say.
But Mrs Clinton promised that Tuesday's primaries would be a "game changer". Altogether, 187 delegates are at stake in the two states, nearly half the remaining total.But Mrs Clinton promised that Tuesday's primaries would be a "game changer". Altogether, 187 delegates are at stake in the two states, nearly half the remaining total.
After Tuesday, there are only six state contests left in the Democrats' long nominating process.After Tuesday, there are only six state contests left in the Democrats' long nominating process.