Clinton Vows to Stay in the Race as North Carolina, Indiana Primaries Extend Obama's Lead

Obama won North Carolina by 56 percent to 42 percent–or about 230,000 votes. Clinton won Indiana by 51 percent to 49 percent–or just over 22,000 votes. The results mean Obama will add both to his pledged-delegate margin and his lead in the popular vote over Clinton. In his victory speech before 3,000 supporters in Raleigh, Obama highlighted the importance of the win.

Sen. Barack Obama.

More than a hour after Obama spoke, Clinton spoke to supporters in Indianapolis before any final call on the Indiana results had been made. Clinton wasn’t declared the winner until after 1 am, more than seven hours after most polls closed. In her speech she vowed to stay in the race.

Sen. Hillary Clinton.

The primaries in North Carolina and Indiana were the third-biggest day of the long nomination battle in terms of delegates with 187 at stake. It was also the last big day of the calendar. An additional 217 pledged delegates remain to be chosen in the final six contests between now and June 3rd: in West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota. All eyes now turn to the remaining 270 or so undeclared superdelegates which either candidate would need to lock up the nomination.

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