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Polls open in touchy Wisconsin
19/02/2008 15:24 - (SA)
Madison - Voters in Wisconsin began casting ballots on Tuesday for candidates seeking the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations in a contentious race marked by attack ads and accusations of plagiarism.
White House hopeful Hillary Clinton strove to stem rival Barack Obama's momentum with a strong showing in Wisconsin's primary even as she lost ground in Texas, the next key Democratic nomination contest.
Polls showed the Wisconsin race too close to call and both campaigns fired off combative television advertisements, braved blizzards to shore up support across the midwestern state, and struggled to control expectations.
On the Republican side, preacher Mike Huckabee continued to court conservative voters despite maverick senator John McCain's overwhelming delegate lead of 846 delegates to Huckabee's 240.
McCain is expected to carry the state, but recent polls showed Huckabee has cut into his lead.
Wisconsin holds an open primary which allows voters to cast a ballot in either race, something which could benefit Obama who has strong support among independents and even among some Republicans.
Obama is also expected to win the closed caucus in Hawaii, the Pacific islands state where he was born. Voting begins at 19:00 in Hawaii.
Voters in Washington State will also head to the polls for a primary which follows February 9 caucuses that handed victories to Obama and McCain.
The Republican Party is urging voters to cast a ballot in the contest which will award the remaining half of the state's delegates.
The primary does not count for Democrats.
Some 74 delegates are up for grab in Wisconsin and 20 in Hawaii.
Clinton is currently trailing Obama 1 235 to 1 302 delegates, according to independent political website RealClearPolitics.com.
- AFP
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