With almost all the votes counted Obama easily beat Clinton by 58 per cent to 41per cent. His win appeared to be propelled by the heavy turnout of voters, especially among college students in the state’s universities.
The caucuses, like previous contests in this compelling Democratic race, saw huge crowds of people packed into venues across the state. Some places had to conduct the caucuses in staggered stages to cope with the crowds. Though Wyoming’s caucuses are worth just 12 of the vital convention delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination, the win is a much needed boost to the Obama campaign. Clinton’s victories in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island last week have revitalised her bid to be America’s first woman commander-in-chief.
They allowed her to paint herself as a comeback candidate who was able to win key big states, like Ohio, which are likely to be the vital battleground with Republican nominee John McCain in the November presidential election. They have also given her once almost dead campaign a vital surge in support. A new poll in Newsweek magazine now shows Clinton virtually tied with Obama in national polls with 44 per week to his 45 per cent.
Obama has consistently performed well in the smaller states which hold caucuses, rather than primaries, and which reward voter enthusiasm and good organisation. He has also generally beat Clinton in contests in “red states” like Wyoming rather than states which usually vote Democratic in presidential elections.
The win also comes after a series of bad news events hit the Obama campaign that has rocked its recent image of inevitability and cool professionalism. First, details leaked of a discussion between an Obama aide and Canadian officials over free trade. The talks appeared to contradict Obama’s public comments over the NAFTA trade agreement which is unpopular in Ohio.
Then another senior Obama advisor, Samantha Power, left the campaign after she told a Scottish newspaper that Clinton was a ‘monster’.
‘No secondary role’
Casper (wyoming), afp: Barack Obama, locked in a fierce battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic presidential nomination, ruled out the possibility of being her vice president in a television interview.
“You won’t see me as a vice presidential candidate - you know, I’m running for president,” Obama told CBS Montana affiliate KTVQ on Friday while campaigning in Casper for Democratic caucus.
“We have won twice as many states as Senator Clinton, and have a higher popular vote, and I think we can maintain our delegate count,” the Illinois senator said.
Obama’s comments stand in contrast to recent statements by the former first lady suggesting she was open to the idea of sharing the ticket with Obama. However she has clearly suggested that sharing, for her, would mean with her as president.
