Sen. Hillary Clinton swept to victory over Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama today in West Virginia's Democratic primary, in her quest to keep her presidential hopes alive.
Sen. Hillary Clinton swept to victory over Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama today in West Virginia's Democratic primary, in her quest to keep her presidential hopes alive.
"Like the song says, 'It's almost heaven," Clinton said when she came on stage at the Charleston Civic Center to claim her victory.
Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton acknowledges supporters at her West Virginia Primary night rally at the Charleston Civic Center.
The Associated Press, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News all declared Clinton the winner within seconds after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., based on exit poll information. Polls leading up to today's vote consistently showed the New York senator with a huge lead over Obama.
"We all know from the Bible, faith can move mountains," Clinton told the jam-packed crowd of about 1,000. "My friends, the faith of the Mountain State has moved me."
Despite the win in West Virginia, most observers expect Obama to prevail for the Democratic nomination and the right to face Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain in the general election in November.
Clinton supporters saw it differently this evening.
"She will be ahead in the popular vote and within 100 delegates by the time the primaries are over," said Terry McAuliffe, a Clinton partisan and former head of the Democratic National Committee.
Democrats will then have to decide which candidate will match up best against McCain, he said.
McAuliffe said Democrats shouldn't worry about the continuing contest between Obama and Clinton fracturing the party.
"George Bush has been the greatest uniting force in the history of the Democratic Party," he said.
Clinton supporters at the Civic Center were waiting for her to address them at about 8:20 p.m. tonight. The former first lady, along with her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea, campaigned heavily across the state during the past week.
Obama, who virtually conceded the West Virginia primary weeks ago by saying he could not overcome Clinton's advantage, made a campaign appearance in Charleston Monday. His camp, which established 11 offices across the state, said it has worked hard to make the Illinois senator more visible to state residents in an effort to win it in the fall.
On his Monday campaign swing, Obama played down any expectations of victory, saying anything over 20 percent would be good. He is also expected to lose in neighboring Kentucky next week and has instead spent more time campaigning in Oregon, which votes later.
Clinton was projected to take more than 70 percent of the vote in the state and supporters said West Virginia had a record turnout for a Democratic primary.
With 35 percent of the precincts counted, Clinton had 89,929, or 65 percent, to Obama's 36,053, or 28 percent. Sen. John Edwards, who earlier withdrew from the race, but whose name was still on the statewide ballot, had 9,191, or 7 percent.
Clinton did not criticize her rival by name during her West Virginia campaign, something party leaders had urged her not to do.
She and her supporters repeatedly told Mountain State residents that no Democrat has won the White House without carrying West Virginia since Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Her campaign said West Virginia's votes showed she would be the stronger candidate against McCain.
Early voters cast a record 76,519 votes across the state.
West Virginia's demographics fit closely with those who have supported Clinton in other states. They include mostly blue-collar, white voters. With the state's small minority population, it has caused some political pundits to say race is a major part of the West Virginia presidential campaign.
Eighteen delegates to the national convention -- six from each congressional district -- were up for grabs today. The delegates are awarded to candidates by a proportion of votes, so it was initially unclear how many delegates Clinton had captured.
The state also has 10 superdelegates -- elected Democratic officials and party officials who can vote for any candidate they wish. Before the election, three had committed to Clinton and two to Obama.
"Tonight I need your help to continue this journey," Clinton told the Civic Center throng. "We are in the homestretch."
She asked superdelegates to give their support to her.
Neighboring Kentucky, Montana, South Dakota, Oregon and Puerto Rico have not yet held their primary elections.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
Updated 10:05 p.m.
Sen. Hillary Clinton swept to victory over Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama today in West Virginia's Democratic primary, in her quest to keep her presidential hopes alive.
"Like the song says, 'It's almost heaven," Clinton said when she came on stage at the Charleston Civic Center to claim her victory.
The Associated Press, CNN, MSNBC and Fox News all declared Clinton the winner within seconds after the polls closed at 7:30 p.m., based on exit poll information. Polls leading up to today's vote consistently showed the New York senator with a huge lead over Obama.
"We all know from the Bible, faith can move mountains," Clinton told the jam-packed crowd of about 1,000. "My friends, the faith of the Mountain State has moved me."
Despite the win in West Virginia, most observers expect Obama to prevail for the Democratic nomination and the right to face Republican Arizona Sen. John McCain in the general election in November.
Clinton supporters saw it differently this evening.
"She will be ahead in the popular vote and within 100 delegates by the time the primaries are over," said Terry McAuliffe, a Clinton partisan and former head of the Democratic National Committee.
Democrats will then have to decide which candidate will match up best against McCain, he said.
McAuliffe said Democrats shouldn't worry about the continuing contest between Obama and Clinton fracturing the party.
"George Bush has been the greatest uniting force in the history of the Democratic Party," he said.
Clinton supporters at the Civic Center were waiting for her to address them at about 8:20 p.m. tonight. The former first lady, along with her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea, campaigned heavily across the state during the past week.
Obama, who virtually conceded the West Virginia primary weeks ago by saying he could not overcome Clinton's advantage, made a campaign appearance in Charleston Monday. His camp, which established 11 offices across the state, said it has worked hard to make the Illinois senator more visible to state residents in an effort to win it in the fall.
On his Monday campaign swing, Obama played down any expectations of victory, saying anything over 20 percent would be good. He is also expected to lose in neighboring Kentucky next week and has instead spent more time campaigning in Oregon, which votes later.
Clinton was projected to take more than 70 percent of the vote in the state and supporters said West Virginia had a record turnout for a Democratic primary.
With 35 percent of the precincts counted, Clinton had 89,929, or 65 percent, to Obama's 36,053, or 28 percent. Sen. John Edwards, who earlier withdrew from the race, but whose name was still on the statewide ballot, had 9,191, or 7 percent.
Clinton did not criticize her rival by name during her West Virginia campaign, something party leaders had urged her not to do.
She and her supporters repeatedly told Mountain State residents that no Democrat has won the White House without carrying West Virginia since Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Her campaign said West Virginia's votes showed she would be the stronger candidate against McCain.
Early voters cast a record 76,519 votes across the state.
West Virginia's demographics fit closely with those who have supported Clinton in other states. They include mostly blue-collar, white voters. With the state's small minority population, it has caused some political pundits to say race is a major part of the West Virginia presidential campaign.
Eighteen delegates to the national convention -- six from each congressional district -- were up for grabs today. The delegates are awarded to candidates by a proportion of votes, so it was initially unclear how many delegates Clinton had captured.
The state also has 10 superdelegates -- elected Democratic officials and party officials who can vote for any candidate they wish. Before the election, three had committed to Clinton and two to Obama.
"Tonight I need your help to continue this journey," Clinton told the Civic Center throng. "We are in the homestretch."
She asked superdelegates to give their support to her.
Neighboring Kentucky, Montana, South Dakota, Oregon and Puerto Rico have not yet held their primary elections.
To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.
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KENOVA - John McCain's stop in West Virginia was brief Wednesday. He got off his campaign plane and onto another version of the "Straight Talk Express," his campaign bus.
CHICAGO -- Reaching out to evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans to expand President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and - in a move sure to cause controversy - support some ability to hire and fire based on faith.
SAN ANTONIO - Republican Sen. John McCain criticized Sen. Barack Obama's call for a windfall profits tax on the oil industry on Tuesday, despite leaving the door open to the same idea last month.
ST. PAUL, Minn. - Before a crowd of cheering thousands, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois laid claim to the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday night, taking a historic step toward his once-improbable goal of becoming the nation's first black president. Hillary Clinton maneuvered for the vice presidential spot on his fall ticket without conceding her own defeat.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Barack Obama stepped to the brink of victory in the Democratic presidential race Tuesday night, defeating Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Oregon primary and moving within 100 delegates of the total he needs to claim the prize at the party convention this summer.
WASHINGTON - Making up for lost time, Barack Obama is dashing full-tilt into the general-election fight against Republican John McCain without waiting for the Democratic marathon to end.
Sen. John McCain made his first campaign stop in West Virginia since launching his bid for the White House -- a private event Friday at a gun shop -- as opponents and supporters waited outside.
Sen. Hillary Clinton's landslide victory Tuesday in West Virginia gave her 20 committed delegates to the Democratic National Convention, but did not prompt any more of the state's superdelegates to declare they'll vote for her.
Sen. Hillary Clinton swept to victory over Democratic rival Sen. Barack Obama Tuesday in West Virginia's Democratic primary, in her quest to keep her presidential hopes alive.
Voting in today's primary appeared to be running smoothly, with voters and election officials seeing few of the problems that plagued the May 2006 primary.
On the day before West Virginia's primary election, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama called for passage of the new GI bill Monday in Charleston, while taking a jab at U.S. Sen. John McCain - his likely opponent in the fall presidential election - for refusing to support it. Watch video from Obama's visit to Charleston
GREENVILLE, N.C. -- Resolute rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama straddled North Carolina and Indiana on Monday on the eve of a pair of crucial primaries in the unceasing contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Both predicted the race would stretch into June, regardless of Tuesday's outcomes.
MORGANTOWN -- Despite findings that Hillary Clinton has less support among young people than Barack Obama, West Virginia University students came out in droves today to support the Democrat vying to be the nation's first female president.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Hillary Rodham Clinton, a former first lady who hasn't driven a car or pumped gas in many years because of Secret Service restrictions, joined a blue-collar worker at a filling station Wednesday to illustrate how the high price of gasoline is squeezing consumers.
Watch video from Obama's visit to Charleston
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