Analysis: an end in sight | Video: Obama's speech | Video: Clinton's speech | Next up: West Virginia

Barack Obama took a potentially decisive step towards the Democratic nomination today after scoring a big victory in North Carolina and forcing the Indiana election down to the wire.

Mr Obama's big win in the Tar Heel state robbed Mrs Clinton of the "game changing" victory she badly needed to alter the course of the Democratic nomination battle, while the closeness of the race in Indiana added to the sense that she is rapidly running out of time to wrench the nomination from her rival's grasp.

Mr Obama took a 14-point win in North Carolina and kept the scale of Mrs Clinton's victory in Indiana down to 2 per cent and little more than 20,000 votes, making it a deeply disappointing night for the former First Lady. She will today face renewed pressure to drop out of the race.

Mrs Clinton insisted that she would carry on, possibly all the way to the final contests in South Dakota and Montana on June 3.

But in his victory speech in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mr Obama — while graciously praising his opponent — sounded like a nominee-elect.

He ended the night with an increased lead among pledged delegates and having erased Mrs Clinton's popular vote margin in Pennsylvania's primary on April 22.

In his speech before a cheering crowd, Mr Obama predicted that the Republicans will attack him over his race. He said that they will "label and name call" — a reference to recent controversies including the incendiary remarks of his former pastor — and declared: "I trust the American people's desire to no longer be defined by our differences."

He added: "That's why I'm in this race. I love this country too much to see it divided and distracted at this moment in history. I believe in our ability to perfect this union because it's the only reason I'm standing here today. And I know the promise of America because I have lived it."

Referring to Mrs Clinton's recent prediction that North Carolina would dramatically alter the race, Mr Obama declared: "There was a time when they were saying North Carolina would be a 'game changer'." He added: "Tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States."

Mrs Clinton referred at her rally in Indiana to Mr Obama's recent comment that Indiana would be a tie-breaker. "Tonight, we've come from behind, we've broken the tie and, thanks to you, it's full speed onto the White House." She pleaded for more money, saying: "We can only keep winning if we keep competing against an opponent who outspends us massively."

Behind her stood a tired looking Bill Clinton — he held nine campaign events in North Carolina on Monday — and their daughter Chelsea.

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