Obama ‘within reach’ of nomination
US Democratic candidate salutes Clinton’s Kentucky win but takes Oregon.
Obama paid tribute to his rival Hillary Clinton, who coasted to an overwhelming victory in the Kentucky primary on Tuesday.
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“The road here has been long and that is partly because we’ve travelled it with one of the most formidable candidates to ever run for the office,” he said, speaking of the senator from New York and congratulating her on her Kentucky victory.
With votes counted from 97 per cent of the Kentucky precincts, Clinton had won 65 per cent support compared to 30 per cent for Obama.
Obama made his remarks before voting closed in Oregon and Al Jazeera’s US media partner NBC has now projected that he will win the state, with 60 per cent of the vote versus Clinton’s 40 per cent.
Obama also sought unity within the Democratic party, and with Clinton‘s supporters.
“No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and your daughters will come of age, and for that we are grateful to her,” Obama said.
“Some may see the millions and millions of votes cast for each of us as evidence our parity is divided, but I see it as proof that we have never been more energised and united in our desire to take this country in a new direction.”
But the tenor of his speech left little doubt that he has put the lengthy and hard fought contest against Clinton behind him and is looking ahead to the battle against John McCain, the all but certain Republican candidate.
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Her campaign director, Olivia Ann Morris Fuchs, told Al Jazeera she was certain her candidate would win and denied Clinton’s continued candidacy was hurting the Democrats.
‘Low road’ warning
Obama warned of a tough campaign ahead against the Republicans and McCain.
“They will play on our fears and out doubts and our divisions to distract us from what matters to you,” he said on Tuesday.
Clinton vowed to press on after her Kentucky win [AFP] |
“Well, they can take the low road if they want, but it will not lead this country to a better place. And it will not work in this election. It won’t work because you won’t let it,” he told 6,000 supporters at an outdoor rally near the Iowa Statehouse.
Obama scheduled the rally in Iowa instead of in one of the states holding primaries on Tuesday as a way of “coming full circle” and launching the general election campaign in a place that is likely to be competitive come November.
“The same question that first led us to Iowa 15 months ago is the one that has brought us back here tonight,” Obama said on Tuesday.
“The question of whether this country, at this moment, will keep doing what we’ve been doing for four more years or whether we will take that different path.