|
'Super Tuesday' dawns
05/02/2008 07:25 - (SA)
Washington - Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama battle coast-to-coast on Tuesday and John McCain aims to put a choke-hold on the Republican White House ticket, in a 24-state nominating clash unique in US history.
As the hours ticked down to Super Tuesday, Clinton, wracked by fatigue after punishing months on the campaign trail, and Obama, energised by polls showing him scything into her once-gaping lead, battled for wavering voters.
The 46-year-old Illinois senator rocked an indoor arena packed with 16 000 supporters, in the closely-fought state of Connecticut, sparking chants of "O-b-ama" and "We can't wait".
Musing on his presidential odyssey, Obama, leading a hope-fuelled crusade for political change, said he had been convinced "the American people, they don't want spin, they don't want PR, they want straight talk".
After a clutch of single-state contests, "Super Tuesday" embraces millions of voters from across racial, religious, social and income barriers, in states as diverse as liberal Massachusetts and "deep south" conservative bastions.
Toughest test yet
It is the toughest test yet in the most expensive, intense, prolonged and unpredictable White House race ever, in which Democrats will eventually make history by picking the first black or woman presidential nominee.
The two rivals battled across the political map, with the race narrowing in a Clinton stronghold, California, tight in heartland Missouri, and up for grabs in the north-eastern states of New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts.
But barring a major surprise, even "Super Tuesday" is unlikely to install Clinton or Obama just yet: their close state-by-state race looks set to go on until at least March.
Earlier, her voice raw and fatigue creasing her face, the former first lady wiped a tear from her eye as she visited Yale University, where her political odyssey started as an earnest 1970s student in bell-bottom pants.
"Well I said I would not tear up, already we are not exactly on the path," said Clinton, 60, in an emotional moment.
Comeback McCain
The cliffhanger Democratic race contrasted with signs that McCain would all but settle the Republican nominating fight on Tuesday, to complete one of the most staggering comebacks in recent US political history.
"I'm guardedly optimistic," the Arizona senator told reporters in Massachusetts, the home state of his top rival Mitt Romney.
A USA Today poll gave McCain a 42% to 24% lead over Romney, with former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee on 18%.
But Romney refused to admit defeat. "This is going to come down to a real battle and I think I'm going to win it," he said at a campaign stop in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday.
"Super Tuesday" states account for more than half the Democratic delegates and almost half of Republican delegates at party conventions in August and September, which formally nominate candidates for November's general election.
There are 22 Democratic contests and 21 on the Republican side, with 19 states hosting nominating clashes for both parties.
- AFP
|
News
