Obama coasts in North Carolina; Clinton leading in Indiana (Roundup)

May 7, 2008, 2:44 GMT

Washington - Barack Obama won a strong victory in North Carolina Tuesday but conceded a narrow apparent defeat in Indiana to rival Hillary Clinton, as the state-by-state Democratic presidential nominating battle enters its final month.

Obama led 57 per cent to 43 per cent in North Carolina with more than 80 per cent of precincts reporting in the Southern state.

The result in Indiana was still unclear. Clinton was leading in the Midwestern state by 52 per cent to 48 per cent over Obama with 85 per cent of precincts reporting, though only CBS News was prepared to call the state for the former first lady.

Despite the close margin, Obama congratulated Clinton for 'what appears to be her victory in the state of Indiana.'

A split decision by voters had been expected from the two largest states left in the Democratic nomination battle. Only six contests now remain, concluding on June 3.

Obama, 46, vowed that the Democratic Party would reunite behind the eventual nominee, despite a gruelling campaign that had left 'bruised feelings' on both sides.

'Many of the pundits have suggested that this party is unalterably divided. I am here tonight to tell you that I don't believe it,' said Obama, thanking supporters in North Carolina's capital Raleigh. 'We will be united in November.'

Clinton appeared before supporters in Indiana to claim victory.

Both sides had played down expectations of landing a knock-out blow in Tuesday's primaries, though Obama's apparent double-digit win in North Carolina was wider than most pre-election surveys had predicted.

'There are those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election. But today what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington,' Obama said.

African-Americans, who made up more than 30 per cent of Democratic voters in North Carolina, chose Obama by more than 90 per cent, according to exit polls reported by broadcaster CNN. White voters picked Clinton by a margin of 59 per cent to 36 per cent.

Clinton, 60, had been favoured to win narrowly in Indiana, which has a large population of working-class white voters who more often favour the New York senator.

Obama's likely votes were concentrated in urban centres with large African-American communities and in northern Indiana, which borders his home state of Illinois.

In the quest for the 2,025 delegates needed to capture the Democratic nomination, Obama led by 1,743 to 1,606 for Clinton before Tuesday's result, according to a count by website realclearpolitics.com. North Carolina had 115 and Indiana 72 delegates up for grabs.

With only 200 delegates left in the six electoral contests remaining after Tuesday, both campaigns have turned to persuading nearly 300 undecided super-delegates - Democratic elected officials and party leaders - who could still potentially swing the nomination in either candidate's favour.

Obama told supporters that his complete victory was close.

'Tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for president of the United States,' he said.

The high cost of petrol and a wider economic slowdown in the United States had dominated much of the discussion as Obama and Clinton crisscrossed the states in the final days.

Clinton has lobbied for a three-month federal petrol-tax holiday over the summer, a move Obama has called a political 'gimmick' that would save average voters little money.

Exit polls from CNN showed that Clinton beat Obama by 53-46 per cent among Indiana voters who said they were affected by a recession in the US economy.