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Key wins for Clinton and McCain Key wins for Clinton and McCain
(30 minutes later)
Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain are celebrating wins in presidential contests in the US states of Nevada and South Carolina.Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain are celebrating wins in presidential contests in the US states of Nevada and South Carolina.
Mr McCain saw off a close challenge by Mike Huckabee to win by 33% to 30% with nearly all votes counted.Mr McCain saw off a close challenge by Mike Huckabee to win by 33% to 30% with nearly all votes counted.
Mrs Clinton beat Barack Obama by 51% to 45% in Nevada, based on 98% of returns.Mrs Clinton beat Barack Obama by 51% to 45% in Nevada, based on 98% of returns.
BBC correspondents say the Democrats remain neck-and-neck overall but Mr McCain will take the advantage into the next Republican contest in Florida.BBC correspondents say the Democrats remain neck-and-neck overall but Mr McCain will take the advantage into the next Republican contest in Florida.
South Carolina is seen as significant because, since 1980, every Republican candidate who has won in South Carolina has gone on to win the party's nomination.South Carolina is seen as significant because, since 1980, every Republican candidate who has won in South Carolina has gone on to win the party's nomination.
WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP Nevada Democrats: Clinton 51%, Obama 45%South Carolina Republicans: McCain 33%, Huckabee 30%Nevada Republicans: Romney 52%, Paul 14% Poll guide: NevadaPoll guide: South Carolina In Saturday's other contest, Mitt Romney won Nevada's Republican caucus, taking 52% of the vote with 99% of the returns counted.WINNERS AND RUNNERS-UP Nevada Democrats: Clinton 51%, Obama 45%South Carolina Republicans: McCain 33%, Huckabee 30%Nevada Republicans: Romney 52%, Paul 14% Poll guide: NevadaPoll guide: South Carolina In Saturday's other contest, Mitt Romney won Nevada's Republican caucus, taking 52% of the vote with 99% of the returns counted.
Ron Paul, the only other Republican seriously to campaign in the state, came second with 14%, ahead of Mr McCain with 13%.Ron Paul, the only other Republican seriously to campaign in the state, came second with 14%, ahead of Mr McCain with 13%.
The caucus was largely overshadowed by South Carolina's primary, where most of the candidates focused their efforts.The caucus was largely overshadowed by South Carolina's primary, where most of the candidates focused their efforts.
'Feeling good''Feeling good'
Addressing cheering supporters, a smiling Mr McCain said: "We have a way to go, my friends, and we have some difficult contests to go - starting tomorrow in the state of Florida, where we are going to win. Addressing cheering supporters, a smiling Mr McCain said: "We have a way to go, my friends, and we have some difficult contests to go - starting... in the state of Florida, where we are going to win.
This year in politics is not an event, it's a process - and the process is far from over here Mike Huckabee Hispanic vote boosts ClintonMcCain's sweet southern win The path to the White House is not ending here tonight Mike Huckabee Hispanic vote boosts ClintonMcCain's sweet southern win
"We are well on the way tonight and I feel very good about our challenges.""We are well on the way tonight and I feel very good about our challenges."
He said he was running to keep the US "safe, prosperous and proud" and promised to restore the trust of the American people in their government.He said he was running to keep the US "safe, prosperous and proud" and promised to restore the trust of the American people in their government.
The Arizona senator also referred wryly to his defeat in the state by George W Bush in 2000, saying: "You know, it's taken us a while - but what's eight years among friends?"The Arizona senator also referred wryly to his defeat in the state by George W Bush in 2000, saying: "You know, it's taken us a while - but what's eight years among friends?"
Mr Huckabee, conceding defeat, praised his rival for running a "decent and civil" campaign and told his supporters: "The path to the White House is not ending here tonight."Mr Huckabee, conceding defeat, praised his rival for running a "decent and civil" campaign and told his supporters: "The path to the White House is not ending here tonight."
The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says that for John McCain, this was a narrow but important victory. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7198500?redirect=7198532.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Clinton's speech The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says that for John McCain, this was a narrow but important victory.
href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7190000/newsid_7198500?redirect=7198532.stm&news=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&bbwm=1&nbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Clinton's speech This is still a wide open race, our correspondent says, but if John McCain can win in the conservative South, he now has a chance to build real momentum.
This is still a wide open race, our correspondent says, and not many voters appear to be paying attention to the rule book so far. Delegate split
But if John McCain can win in the conservative South, he now has a real chance of building real momentum, he adds. Earlier in Nevada, Mrs Clinton described her win as "an especially wonderful day for me."
With 96% of the vote counted, former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, who focused heavily on South Carolina, was in third place with 16% of the vote, just ahead of Mr Romney. But Mr Obama's campaign said that he had won the battle in terms of the number of delegates that would be allocated to back him at the party conference this summer, where the Democratic presidential candidate will be chosen.
Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, who has made little headway in the race, announced he was dropping out before the votes were counted in South Carolina. Mr Obama had the support of a key Nevada unionThe Associated Press reported that Mr Obama had won 13 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 12.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has virtually ignored the early races to concentrate on the bigger prize of Florida at the end of the month. State party officials said the AP projection was correct as long as there was no change between now and April, when under Nevada caucus rules the final decision on delegates will be taken.
'Wonderful day'
Earlier in Nevada, Mrs Clinton hailed her win as "an extraordinary success for Nevada and the Democratic Party".
"This is one step on a long journey throughout the country as we put our cases forward and take that case to the people, and this was an especially wonderful day for me," she said.
"I want to say that we will all be united in November to beat the Republicans."
Mrs Clinton's campaign manager Terry McAuliffe told US network MSNBC: "This is a huge win for Hillary. This is big, this is a big day."
Mr Obama's campaign says he won more delegates in NevadaHowever, Mr Obama's campaign said that he had in fact won the battle in terms of the number of delegates which would be allocated to back him at the party conference this summer where the Democratic presidential candidate will be chosen.
The Associated Press reported that Mr Obama had won 13 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 12. No official figures were available.
"We won an honest, uplifting campaign that focused on the real problems Americans are facing," said Mr Obama.
But his campaign manager accused the Clinton campaign of a week of "false, divisive, attacks designed to mislead caucus-goers".
Democrat John Edwards came third in the caucus with 4%, falling well short of his second place in the Iowa caucuses earlier this month.Democrat John Edwards came third in the caucus with 4%, falling well short of his second place in the Iowa caucuses earlier this month.
Going into the Nevada vote, Mrs Clinton was backed by influential politicians in the state's Hispanic community, which makes up about 25% of the population, while Mr Obama had the support of a powerful local union organisation.Going into the Nevada vote, Mrs Clinton was backed by influential politicians in the state's Hispanic community, which makes up about 25% of the population, while Mr Obama had the support of a powerful local union organisation.
Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama will take their struggle for the Democratic nomination to South Carolina, where the party's primary takes place on 26 January. Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama will now take their struggle for the Democratic nomination to South Carolina, where the party's primary takes place on 26 January.
Correspondents say the key issue will be which of the two candidates can attract the support of the state's black community, who make up a third of the population.Correspondents say the key issue will be which of the two candidates can attract the support of the state's black community, who make up a third of the population.
Republican drops out
The next big contest for the Republicans is Florida on 29 January.The next big contest for the Republicans is Florida on 29 January.
The ballots precede Super Tuesday, when 22 states will hold polls on 5 February. The ballots precede Super Tuesday on 5 February, when 22 states will hold nomination contests.
The Republican primary in South Carolina dealt a severe blow to former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson, who focused heavily on the state, but came third with 16% of the vote, with 96% of the vote counted.
Californian Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter dropped out of the White House race, citing his failure to gain traction in Nevada and South Carolina, where he won 2% and 1% of the vote respectively.
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has virtually ignored the early races to concentrate on the bigger prize of Florida at the end of the month.