This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7252205.stm

The article has changed 31 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Critical US contest in Wisconsin Critical US contest in Wisconsin
(about 3 hours later)
The race for the White House continues in Wisconsin with Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton neck-and-neck for their party nomination. Voters in Wisconsin are going to the polls to back their favoured candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties' presidential nominations.
The contest in the US state is expected to be close and could give the winner the cutting edge for eventual victory. The Democratic contest is expected to be close and could give the winner the cutting edge for eventual victory.
Republicans are also holding their own contest, but front-runner John McCain is widely expected to win.Republicans are also holding their own contest, but front-runner John McCain is widely expected to win.
A Democratic caucus will be held in Hawaii, while Republicans in Washington state vote in a primary. A Democratic caucus will also be held in Hawaii, while Republicans in Washington state vote in a primary.
Mr Obama is expected to win in Hawaii, where the Illinois senator was born. Mr Obama is expected to win in Hawaii, where he was born.
Not a killer blowNot a killer blow
Freezing temperatures and blowing snow are expected across Wisconsin, but officials still expect a big turnout, reports say. Freezing temperatures and blowing snow are expected across Wisconsin, but officials still expect a big turnout.
The state's 74 Democratic delegates are at stake.The state's 74 Democratic delegates are at stake.
Wisconsin will not be a killer blow to either side, but a strong win for Hillary Rodham Clinton or Barack Obama could set them on the course to eventual victory, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb. type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/nol/shared/bsp/hi/americas/08/super_tuesday/css/tab_box.css" />

id="tab_1" class="tab">Democrats

id="cont_1" class="supertues">
Hillary Clinton12 states, 1,218 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama21 states, 1,280 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington state2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates) href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7224970.stm">Q&A: US election delegates

id="tab_2" class="tab">Republicans

id="cont_2" class="supertues">
Mike Huckabee8 states, 245 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain15 states, 903 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state
Mitt Romney11 states, 253 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)
Wisconsin will not be a killer blow to either side, but a strong win for Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama could set them on the course to eventual victory, says BBC North America editor Justin Webb.
For Mrs Clinton in particular, a good showing might allow her campaign to find its feet again after a string of recent losses, while for Mr Obama success would add to the growing sense that he is now the front-runner, our correspondent says.For Mrs Clinton in particular, a good showing might allow her campaign to find its feet again after a string of recent losses, while for Mr Obama success would add to the growing sense that he is now the front-runner, our correspondent says.
On the Republican side, the race between John McCain and Mike Huckabee continues.On the Republican side, the race between John McCain and Mike Huckabee continues.
Two-tiered contestTwo-tiered contest
Mr McCain, who is well ahead in delegates and has the support of the party establishment, is expected to win.Mr McCain, who is well ahead in delegates and has the support of the party establishment, is expected to win.
On Monday, former President George Bush Senior endorsed Mr McCain in his bid to be the Republicans' presidential nominee.On Monday, former President George Bush Senior endorsed Mr McCain in his bid to be the Republicans' presidential nominee.
The Washington Republican primary is the second half of a two-tiered nominating contest as the state's Republicans held a caucus on 9 February, which was narrowly won by Republican front-runner John McCain.The Washington Republican primary is the second half of a two-tiered nominating contest as the state's Republicans held a caucus on 9 February, which was narrowly won by Republican front-runner John McCain.
Republicans only allocate about half of their delegates on the basis of the primary - the rest were decided earlier in the caucus.Republicans only allocate about half of their delegates on the basis of the primary - the rest were decided earlier in the caucus.
The state's Democrats are also holding a primary, but it is an essentially empty exercise, since their delegates to the party's summer nominating convention were chosen on the basis of caucuses held last month and earlier this month. The state's Democrats are also holding a primary, but it is no more than a political beauty contest, since their delegates to the party's summer nominating convention were chosen on the basis of caucuses held last month and earlier this month.