Results after more than 12 hours of manual counting showed Obama took 2,264 votes to 2,257 for Clinton. In the last Democratic primary in 2004 only 1,500 people took part.

“Clearly, both of them are quite popular and we should celebrate that,” Josh Tenorio, Obama’s campaign manager on the territory said.

With only four votes at the Democratic convention at stake, the contest on Guam, a Pacific island more than 20 hours by plane from Washington, will barely register in the protracted duel for the party’s presidential ticket.

Neither candidate made it to Guam — instead both called into radio stations to campaign — and many Americans have never even heard of it, but some islanders were thrilled to finally be in the spotlight.

Residents cannot vote in the presidential election but Guam, which is less than a fifth of the size of the smallest US state of Rhode Island, sends eight delegates with half a vote each to the Democratic convention in August.

Victory for Obama adds to his lead over Clinton but still leaves him short of being able to clinch the nomination to run against Republican John McCain in the November election.

The next major contests for the Democratic nomination are on May 6 in North Carolina and Indiana. The two states have a combined 187 delegates at stake.