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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Kennedy backs Obama 'for change' | Kennedy backs Obama 'for change' |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| Barack Obama's campaign to become the Democratic candidate for US president received a major lift with the coveted backing of Senator Edward Kennedy. | Barack Obama's campaign to become the Democratic candidate for US president received a major lift with the coveted backing of Senator Edward Kennedy. |
| The seal of approval from the patriarch of one of America's most prominent political dynasties could give fresh momentum to Mr Obama, analysts say. | The seal of approval from the patriarch of one of America's most prominent political dynasties could give fresh momentum to Mr Obama, analysts say. |
| The elder statesman made his endorsement public at a rally in Washington with the Illinois senator. | The elder statesman made his endorsement public at a rally in Washington with the Illinois senator. |
| Mr Kennedy had reportedly been unhappy with the tone of the Clinton campaign. | Mr Kennedy had reportedly been unhappy with the tone of the Clinton campaign. |
| The last surviving brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy, Senator Kennedy is now expected to campaign with his son, congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, for the man who would be the first US black president. | The last surviving brother of assassinated President John F Kennedy, Senator Kennedy is now expected to campaign with his son, congressman Patrick Kennedy of Rhode Island, for the man who would be the first US black president. |
| Heated exchange | Heated exchange |
| In a prepared statement on Monday, Edward Kennedy praised Mr Obama as a "man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character", adding: "I feel change in the air." | In a prepared statement on Monday, Edward Kennedy praised Mr Obama as a "man with extraordinary gifts of leadership and character", adding: "I feel change in the air." |
| Primaries and caucusesWin fires up Obama backers | Primaries and caucusesWin fires up Obama backers |
| Nobel laureate African-American author Toni Morrison, who once dubbed Bill Clinton the "first black president", also endorsed Mr Obama on Monday. | Nobel laureate African-American author Toni Morrison, who once dubbed Bill Clinton the "first black president", also endorsed Mr Obama on Monday. |
| Mr Obama, 46, decisively beat his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, in South Carolina's party nomination battle on Saturday, after Mrs Clinton won in New Hampshire and Nevada. | Mr Obama, 46, decisively beat his rival, Senator Hillary Clinton, in South Carolina's party nomination battle on Saturday, after Mrs Clinton won in New Hampshire and Nevada. |
| Analysts say Mr Kennedy's backing appears linked to criticism that ex-President Clinton's campaigning on behalf of his wife in South Carolina may have been overly aggressive. | Analysts say Mr Kennedy's backing appears linked to criticism that ex-President Clinton's campaigning on behalf of his wife in South Carolina may have been overly aggressive. |
| 'Misleading statements' | 'Misleading statements' |
| Mr Kennedy and Mr Clinton had a heated telephone exchange earlier this month, according to Monday's New York Times. | Mr Kennedy and Mr Clinton had a heated telephone exchange earlier this month, according to Monday's New York Times. |
| The Massachusetts politician reportedly accused Mr Clinton of injecting race into the campaign and complained over what he considered to be misleading statements by Mr Clinton about Mr Obama. | The Massachusetts politician reportedly accused Mr Clinton of injecting race into the campaign and complained over what he considered to be misleading statements by Mr Clinton about Mr Obama. |
| The BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington says Mr Obama has been hoping for some time for the endorsement of the 75- year-old but Mrs Clinton's camp has been lobbying for Mr Kennedy to at least remain neutral. | The BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington says Mr Obama has been hoping for some time for the endorsement of the 75- year-old but Mrs Clinton's camp has been lobbying for Mr Kennedy to at least remain neutral. |
| A new poll puts John McCain ahead of his Republican rivals in Florida | A new poll puts John McCain ahead of his Republican rivals in Florida |
| After news of Mr Kennedy's backing for Mr Obama broke, the Clinton camp distributed a statement from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the daughter of Robert F Kennedy. | After news of Mr Kennedy's backing for Mr Obama broke, the Clinton camp distributed a statement from Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the daughter of Robert F Kennedy. |
| The former Maryland lieutenant governor pledged her support to Mrs Clinton. | The former Maryland lieutenant governor pledged her support to Mrs Clinton. |
| Democratic sources told Monday's Washington Post that Edward Kennedy had been seriously considering backing Mr Obama since he won Iowa's caucuses on 3 January. | Democratic sources told Monday's Washington Post that Edward Kennedy had been seriously considering backing Mr Obama since he won Iowa's caucuses on 3 January. |
| Mr Obama beat Mrs Clinton in the weekend's South Carolina primary election by 55% to 27%, with John Edwards third on 18%. | Mr Obama beat Mrs Clinton in the weekend's South Carolina primary election by 55% to 27%, with John Edwards third on 18%. |
| DELEGATES Candidate wins nomination by accumulating 2,025 delegatesMost are "pledged delegates", won at primaries or caucusesDelegates vote at summer convention to confirm nominee | |
| In the tally of primary and caucus contests so far, the two Democratic front-runners have each won a brace - Mr Obama at Iowa and South Carolina, while Mrs Clinton triumphed in New Hampshire and Nevada. | In the tally of primary and caucus contests so far, the two Democratic front-runners have each won a brace - Mr Obama at Iowa and South Carolina, while Mrs Clinton triumphed in New Hampshire and Nevada. |
| Analysts say the contest could extend beyond Super Tuesday next week, when two dozen states hold primary elections. | Analysts say the contest could extend beyond Super Tuesday next week, when two dozen states hold primary elections. |