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Clinton wins Texas, Ohio; McCain clinches GOP nomination

BY JENNIFER MALONEY | jennifer.maloney@newsday.com

8:10 AM EST, March 5, 2008

Hillary Rodham Clinton, fresh off big primary victories, hinted Wednesday at the possibility of sharing the Democratic presidential ticket with Barack Obama -- with her at the top. Obama played down his losses, stressing that he still holds the lead in number of delegates.

Clinton shattered Obama's monthlong winning streak Tuesday night, scoring Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas, as John McCain clinched the Republican presidential nomination.

Clinton's Ohio and Texas victories revived a campaign that had been expected to disintegrate if she didn't carry at least one of the delegate-rich states. And they provided yet another dramatic development in a riveting campaign that has been marked by unexpected twists and turns.

In Texas, with 76 percent of precincts reporting early Wednesday, Clinton was leading 51 percent to 47 percent.

In Ohio, she won decisively, 53 percent to 43 percent, with 88 percent of precincts reporting.

An ecstatic crowd greeted Clinton in Columbus, Ohio, Tuesday night, where she promised to continue her bid for the White House.

"For everyone here in Ohio and across America who's ever been counted out but refused to be knocked out, for everyone who has stumbled but stood right back up and for everyone who works hard and never gives up, this one is for you," Clinton said with a wide smile. "Ohio has written a new chapter in this campaign and we're just getting started . . . Millions of Americans haven't spoken yet."

McCain -- who carried Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas -- secured the 1,191 delegates he needed and was expected to appear at the White House Wednesday for an endorsement by President George W. Bush.

Speaking in Dallas Tuesday night, McCain said: "I am very pleased to note that tonight, my friends, we have won enough delegates to claim with confidence, humility and a sense of great responsibility that I will be the Republican nominee for president of the United States."

Mike Huckabee, who had been trailing far behind McCain, conceded Tuesday night and called for unity in both the party and the country.

"We want to be a part of helping to keep the issues alive that have helped keep us in this race," Huckabee said.

Clinton's triple win was her first after 12 straight defeats to Obama -- the last of which came early Tuesday evening when Obama took Vermont.

Clinton had said she would press on regardless of Tuesday's results. But even Bill Clinton last week said his wife would need solid victories in Ohio and Texas.

Obama's camp, meanwhile, argued that narrow wins for Clinton in Texas and Ohio might not be enough to propel her past Obama in the delegate hunt, where, heading into Tuesday's primaries, Obama was well short of the 2,025 delegates needed but still about 100 ahead of Clinton.

Speaking in San Antonio, Tex., after the Ohio projection but before Texas results were in, Obama congratulated Clinton "for running a hard-fought race in both Ohio and Rhode Island."

Obama said that no matter what happened in Texas, he would maintain nearly the same delegate lead he had held Tuesday morning.

"We are on our way to winning the nomination," he said. "Sí se puede!"

Texas offered 228 Democratic delegates, Ohio 164, Rhode Island 21, and Vermont 15.

Clinton showed renewed strength Tuesday in Texas and Ohio among whites and working-class voters who had begun deserting her in recent contests, according to early results from exit polls.

The Illinois senator -- who aims to become the country's first black president -- made his usual strong showing among blacks, young voters and the college-educated. But his recent inroads into some of Clinton's core support groups seemed to be limited, at least for now.

White men have been a key swing group in this year's Democratic primaries. The New York senator won among white men in Ohio, tied with Obama for their votes in Texas and came close in Rhode Island.

Clinton's chance at becoming the nation's first woman president could depend on support by many superdelegates at the Democratic convention.

Roughly six in 10 Democratic voters Tuesday said superdelegates -- party leaders and elected officials who will cast votes at the party nominating convention this summer in Denver -- should vote based on results of the primaries and caucuses rather than for the candidate they think has the best chance to win in November.

Even among Clinton supporters, about half said the superdelegates should follow the results of the primaries and caucuses. Obama voters were more likely to say so.

Huckabee hung on for weeks despite long odds, hindering McCain's ability to reposition for the general election in November.

As a guest on Saturday Night Live last week, he said: "Mike Huckabee does not overstay his welcome. When it's time for me to go, I'll know. And I'll exit out with class and grace."

He then remained seated as "Weekend Update" anchor Seth Meyers signaled that it was time for him to leave.

This story was supplemented by reports from The Associated Press.