Hillary wins but can't match up with Obama

NARROWING TO ONE: Barack Obama's clear win in North Carolina has given him an unassailable lead.

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New Delhi: Barack Obama's clear win in North Carolina has given him an unassailable lead.

For Obama, this will be big boost, since he came into the North Carolina and Indiana primaries after lagging behind, fighting off a loss in Pennsylvania and divisive racist remarks by his pastor, both of which cast doubts on his ability to swing the white vote.

“You know there were those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer but today, North Carolina decided that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington DC,” said Obama, while thanking his supporters for his win in the North Carolina primary.

While Obama got 56 per cent of the votes, Hillary got 42 per cent, with 99 per cent of precincts reporting. These were the last of the big-ticket states.

However, the margin of her victory is far too narrow to keep her going in the race.

Though there are still the super-delegates to whom Clinton can project her case, the narrow win in Indiana is being seen as having dented, if not destroyed, her chances.

Hillary, however, said she has no plans to quit the Democratic race just yet.

“I will never give up on you, your families and your dreams and future. I want to thank the people of Indiana for their hospitality and vote of confidence,” she told her supporters.

Obama now has the backing of some 1,840 delegates and super-delegates against Hillary’s 1,684. He's thus closer to the magic figure of 2,025 delegates needed to secure the Democratic nomination.

The feeling in the air, however, is that Hillary might actually drop out from the Democratic race this month.

CNN-IBN’s Anirudh Bhattacharya reports from New York: “There is a lot of speculation in the air that Hillary might drop out of the race before May 31.

“What impresses the super-delegates is that in spite of a terrible two weeks of public attention and his pastor coming out in the open, he (Obama) has still won North Carolina by 14 percentage points.

“Analysts say this has made him stronger for the race ahead.”