Democrats gear up for Mississippi primary

RACE CONTINUES: Hillary and Obama need a total of 2025 delegates to clinch the nomination.

    

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Keywords: John McCain, Barack Obama

Washington: Next stop on the Democratic campaign trail with 40 delegates at stake is the state of Mississippi.

“Now this is a contested primary and it is exciting. You know, Mississippi's votes are going to count,” Hillary Clinton told crowds gathered at her campaign rally.

Over the weekend, President Bill Clinton campaigned in the state for his wife. He talked of a potential joint ticket, saying Senator Obama would win urban areas and upscale voters while Senator Clinton would secure the rural vote.

“If you put those two things together you would have an almost unstoppable force,” Clinton said.

The idea was already talked about last week, when Hillary said a joint ticket may be where this is all headed.

Obama was clearly not crazy about the idea.

"You won't see me as a vice-presidential candidate," he said.

“We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton and have a higher popular vote. I think we can maintain our delegate count,” he said.

Meanwhile, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain was off the campaign trail this weekend, but he was still in the spotlight.

McCain spoke with a local reporter during the Phoenix Suns/San Antonio Spurs game.

“For me, in a way, it's a form of relaxation because I've been watching them for so many years, and when I've lost a primary, it takes my mind off it,” McCain joked.

Hillary campaigns in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, while Obama works in Mississippi and John McCain holds events in Arizona and Missouri.

Over the weekend, Barack Obama won the Wyoming Democratic caucuses winning at least seven of the delegates while Hillary picked up four. Obama and Hillary are now separated by fewer than 100 delegates with Obama in the lead.

On Monday, Obama had 1508 delegates to Hillary's 1468. It will take a total of 2025 to win the nomination. To get to this mark both candidates are leaning heavily on the Pennsylvania primaries that are to be held on April 22.