Tim Reid in Washington
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Barack Obama has overtaken Hillary Clinton in the race for Democratic presidential delegates after routing her in last night's three primary contests, victories that saw him dramatically cut into her core support for the first time.
As another of Mrs Clinton's top advisers quit her campaign, Mr Obama crushed her in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC, drawing unprecedented backing across race, gender and economic lines with a momentum that advisers to Mrs Clinton concede is gravely endangering her campaign.
As the scale of his victories emerged, Mrs Clinton's camp announced that her deputy campaign manager Mike Henry had resigned, two days after the removal of her campaign manager, Patti Solis Doyle, adding to the sense of mounting stress and pressure in the face of Mr Obama's recent string of victories.
John McCain, the Republican frontrunner, won all three primaries over Mike Huckabee, bringing him closer to what appears to be his inevitable nomination. But he only narrowly won Virginia, in the face of stiff opposition from conservatives and evangelicals, a clear sign that he has an ongoing problem with the base of his party, which could damage him in the general election.
Mr Obama was heavily favoured to win yesterday's "Potomac primaries", where black voters accounted for a big proportion of turnout. But the scale of his victories, which saw him cut heavily for the first time into Mrs Clinton's core support, was overwhelming. He won Virginia 64 per cent to 35; Maryland 60 per cent to 37; and Washington DC 75 per cent to 24.
Of more concern to Mrs Clinton, who is now banking all on victories in Texas and Ohio on March 4 to save her campaign, was the manner of her rival's wins last night.
Mr Obama split the white vote with Mrs Clinton in Virginia and Maryland, a group where the former New York senator has held a clear advantage. He prevailed among white men, and held her advantage among white women to just nine points, a bloc that has usually backed her by margins of 20 per cent.
With Mrs Clinton now focused on Texas, where she held a rally last night in a state one third Hispanic - a minority that has favoured her heavily - Mr Obama beat her among Latinos in Maryland 53 to 47 per cent.
In further signs that his momentum is cutting into her base, he prevailed among voters over 65, lower-income voters, and rural voters, although a significant number of those were black.
In Maryland, he won among all religions, all age groups, and all education levels. He won an even bigger margin among African Americans than in previous contests, with more than 90 per cent turning out for him. He swamped her among young voters four to one, and among independents by three-to-one. He won among blue-collar voters and the affluent.
"Tonight we're on our way," he told cheering supporters in Madison, Wisconsin, celebrating his eight straight victories over Mrs Clinton since the Super Tuesday contests.
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Obama is the the best choice for America right now! As for his downgrading rhetoric of Hiliary, thats just politics. She constantly attacks him and no one cares but when he get her back its a problem all of a sudden.
Kel, greer, south carolina
In California, as a small example, Obama was endorsed by 98% of the newspapers in this state. Newspaper editorial boards are no dummies. Yes, 98% of these editorial boards endorsed Obama over Clinton. I would value their opinion over some ignorant foreigners who know little about America.
Michael Gish, Los Angeles, CA
"People state that Obama does not have the experience, what experience did Tony Blair have in 97? "
And look at the complete mess we find Britain in! Police have no power, pensions have disappeared, illegal wars, highest poverty rate in the Western world (Scotland), data vanishing, military expenditure spread so thin the guns don't work and the pushing through of 32000 new pieces of legislation a year! We find ourseleves in a complete mess here in the UK... hence your point is mute.
Personally I would vote for Hilary, she was the real brains, Bill had the charm she lacked. She has more experience and I reckon she'd make tough decisions... Obama seems to change his opinion depending on who he's talking to and reminds me too much of Tony Blair, he also lacks experience at all levels... maybe after another 4-8 years of being senator he will be better suited for office.
But that's just an outsider's view.
Graeme, Edinburgh,
I think Obama is ok but, he is just not ready to lead our country out of this mess. He is a great orator but, he is losing ground with me because of his constant downgrading rhetoric of Hillary. Hillary can beat the Republicans and get Americans back to work. And make us better allies around the world. I believe this!
barbara, galion, usa/ohio
In the end all that counts is that a democrat gets in office. anyway the all time lows have already been hit.
LP, london, england
For those who recall the great Peter Sellers movie "Being There", which character does Barack Obama remind us of? Yes of course, Chauncey Gardener. He was the man who, like Obama, spoke platitudes about "growth in the spring" that important people took as wisdom. He ended up as President of the US. Life imitates art.
Jerry, seattle, usa
Race, gender, race, gender, black man vs white woman. This is all everyone is talking about. To be frank I really dont care what they look like, I want to know their plans for the U.S and it's international policies! For all I know Obama could be an axe murderer and Clinton a megalomaniac! But all anyone cares about is whether the black man will beat the white woman! Wake up everyone and focus on what they actually represent!
James, Bournemouth, UK
He reminds me of Tony Blair. The only good thing about Tony was that he was here and not running America.
M Bridgman, Norwich, UK
Its a shame that our voters are so gullible as to jump on the Obama bandwagon. We are going to be stuck with another inept President if he is elected. He preaches Change but offers no capability of delivering it.....because he is inexperienced, unqualified and basically a big bag of hot air. But there are so many people in the US that can be led around like sheep. Its unfortunate and its the downfall of our country.
Anne, Kenosha, Wisconsin USA
Obama is all talk and no detail -- great for the young. Just tell them they get all this stuff and it's all paid for by the wealthy and do it with enough flowery rhetoric to make them forget to ask how. Most of his plans are so naive they are an embarrasment to the Democratic party. If we do not get Hillary in we can just about concede to McCain now. They are making minced meat of Obama on right-wing radio already.
George, Washington, DC
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