Riding on a massive African-American support, Obama on Saturday night routed New York Senator Clinton by 55 to 27 per cent in the state where more than 50 per cent of the voters were black and four out of five supported him. Among white voters, Obama took only about a quarter of the vote, with Clinton and former Senator John Edwards roughly splitting the remainder.

Projecting himself as an agent of change, Obama said, “There are real differences between the candidates. We are looking for more than just a change of party in the White House. We are looking to fundamentally change the status quo in Washington.”

“It’s a status quo that extends beyond a particular party and that status quo is fighting back with everything its got, with the same old tactics that divide and distract us from solving the problems people face,” he said.Obama, savouring his first victory after the Iowa caucuses, said his supporters had again proved the sceptics wrong.

“Over two weeks ago, we saw the people of Iowa proclaim that our time for change has come. But there were those who doubted this country’s desire for something new  who said Iowa was a fluke not to be repeated again,” he told a crowd of about 1,500, who chanted “We Want Change” and “Race does not matter” and “Yes We Can”. “The choice in this election is not about region or religion or gender,” the 46-year-old charismatic Democrat said in his victory speech.“It’s not about rich versus poor, young versus old and it’s not about black versus white. It’s about the past versus the future.”

After her defeat, Clinton, who is also trying to script history by becoming the first woman President, said “In the days ahead, I’ll work to give voice to those who are working harder than ever to be heard,” said the former first lady, who had emerged victorious in New Hampshire and Nevada primaries.