World | USA
McCain surges ahead of pack
Republican John McCain all but wrapped up his party's nomination, winning the most important primaries and building what could be an insurmountable lead in delegates in the biggest primary day in US history.
- AP
- Published: 00:15 February 7, 2008
Washington: Republican John McCain all but wrapped up his party's nomination, winning the most important primaries and building what could be an insurmountable lead in delegates in the biggest primary day in US history.
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama dug in for an extended battle for the Demoractic presidential nomination after splitting wins.
Either Clinton or Obama will likely face a formidable opponent in John McCain, whose cross-country victories on Tuesday seem to guarantee he will be the Republican candidate in the November presidential election.
McCain's independent streak has won him support across party lines and, more than most Republicans, allows him to distance himself from the unpopular presidency of George W. Bush.
McCain's victories in California, New York and other major states dealt a crushing blow to his main rival, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, and capped a remarkable comeback for a campaign that nearly unravelled last year.
"We've won some of the biggest states in the country," McCain told cheering supporters at a rally in Phoenix. An underdog for months, he proclaimed himself the front-runner at last, and added. "I don't really mind it one bit."
In the competition that counted the most, the Arizona senator had 613 delegates, more than half the 1,191 needed for the nomination - and far ahead of his rivals.
Even so, Romney and Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor, said they were staying in the race. Huckabee, a Baptist preacher, won contests in the south, his appeal to Christians conservatives there undermining Romney's support.
Clinton had 845 delegates, to 765 for Obama, out of the 2,025 needed to secure victory at the party convention in August.
Clinton's advantage is partly due to her lead among so-called superdelegates, members of Congress and other party leaders who are not selected in primaries and caucuses - and who are also free to change their minds.
She won a total of eight states plus American Samoa. Neither Clinton nor Obama proclaimed victory. McCain, a veteran senator and former Vietnam prisoner of war, has campaigned on his national security experience.
His reputation as a maverick has won him support from independent voters and moderate Republicans but alienated conservative Republicans who form the party's core constituency. He has benefited from the failed campaigns of other rivals.
The biggest-ever Super Tuesday presidential primary contest in American history caused extraordinary voter interest, but apparently no major problems.
Precincts across the country reported record turnout on Tuesday as 24 states held primaries and caucuses, with voters braving deadly tornadoes in the South, snow in Kansas and Arctic temperatures in Alaska.
"There is just an extraordinary amount of interest in this election, and in who will be in the White House," said Doug Chapin, director of watchdog organisation electionline.org.
"Election officials know that the level of turnout is rising, but I think they're really surprised at how high that level of turnout is." So great was the desire to be part of a record-number of primaries and caucuses, some states reported voters showing up at the polls who weren't eligible.
In Arizona, for example, registered Independents showed up in Maricopa County, only to find out that participation required a party affiliation.
In California, the opposite happened - nonpartisan voters complained they were wrongly challenged when they tried to vote Democratic.
Florida voters got so caught up in the excitement of Super Tuesday that many tried to cast ballots for the presidential primaries - again.
Election officials across the state said they fielded hundreds of phone calls from voters apparently unaware that Florida's presidential primary was last week.
"We've had over 100 calls at least over the last two days," said a spokesman for the Palm Beach County Election Supervisor.
Share this article
News Editor's choice
-
Africa segment at Dubai film festival
Productions feature interesting mix of genres tackling serious issues
-
Arafat death anniversary remembered
Palestinians mark five years since the death of leader Yasser Arafat
-
What to expect at the Dubai Airshow
We preview what types of aircraft to expect at the Dubai Airshow
