Obama wins in Wyoming

CASPER – As expected, Senator Barack Obama captured the Wyoming Democratic caucuses on Saturday, following major setbacks in the bellwether state of Ohio as well as Texas.

Obama is in a close, hard-fought race with rival Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for the party’s presidential nomination. Obama generally has outperformed Clinton in caucuses, which reward organisation and voter passion more than do primaries.The Illinois senator has now won 13 caucuses to Clinton’s three.But Clinton has won the big states, which are imperative come the general election.Clinton threw some effort into Wyoming, perhaps hoping for an upset that would yield few delegates but considerable buzz and momentum.The New York senator campaigned on Friday in Cheyenne and Casper.Former President Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, also campaigned this past week in the sprawling and lightly populated state.Obama campaigned in Casper and Laramie on Friday, but spent part of his time dealing with the fallout from an aide’s harsh words about Clinton and suggestions that Obama wouldn’t move as quickly to withdraw US forces from Iraq if elected.Clinton, buoyed by her big wins in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday, said she faced an uphill fight in Wyoming.Her campaign also holds out little hope for Tuesday’s primary in Mississippi, which has a large black population.With all 23 Wyoming counties reporting, Obama won seven delegates and Clinton won five.In the overall race for the nomination, Obama led 1 578 to 1 468, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press.It will take 2 025 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the Wyoming victory speaks to the candidate’s strength in the West.Clinton’s campaign took heart in their ability to pick up more delegates.”We are thrilled with this near-split in delegates and are grateful to the people of Wyoming for their support,” said campaign manager Maggie Williams.”Although the Obama campaign predicted victory in Wyoming weeks ago, we worked hard to present Senator Clinton’s vision to the caucus-goers and we thank them for turning out today.”Both candidates were looking ahead to the bigger prize – delegate-rich Pennsylvania on April 22.Nampa-APObama generally has outperformed Clinton in caucuses, which reward organisation and voter passion more than do primaries.The Illinois senator has now won 13 caucuses to Clinton’s three.But Clinton has won the big states, which are imperative come the general election.Clinton threw some effort into Wyoming, perhaps hoping for an upset that would yield few delegates but considerable buzz and momentum.The New York senator campaigned on Friday in Cheyenne and Casper.Former President Clinton and their daughter, Chelsea, also campaigned this past week in the sprawling and lightly populated state.Obama campaigned in Casper and Laramie on Friday, but spent part of his time dealing with the fallout from an aide’s harsh words about Clinton and suggestions that Obama wouldn’t move as quickly to withdraw US forces from Iraq if elected.Clinton, buoyed by her big wins in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday, said she faced an uphill fight in Wyoming.Her campaign also holds out little hope for Tuesday’s primary in Mississippi, which has a large black population.With all 23 Wyoming counties reporting, Obama won seven delegates and Clinton won five.In the overall race for the nomination, Obama led 1 578 to 1 468, according to the latest tally by The Associated Press.It will take 2 025 delegates to win the Democratic nomination.Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said the Wyoming victory speaks to the candidate’s strength in the West.Clinton’s campaign took heart in their ability to pick up more delegates.”We are thrilled with this near-split in delegates and are grateful to the people of Wyoming for their support,” said campaign manager Maggie Williams.”Although the Obama campaign predicted victory in Wyoming weeks ago, we worked hard to present Senator Clinton’s vision to the caucus-goers and we thank them for turning out today.”Both candidates were looking ahead to the bigger prize – delegate-rich Pennsylvania on April 22.Nampa-AP