BBC头条：美国当地时间5月6日，奥巴马在北卡罗来纳州的初选中获胜，希拉里则在印第安纳州的初选中暂时领先。

印第安纳州和北卡罗来纳州的预选是奥巴马与希拉里争夺民主党总统候选人的一场关键较量。

Page last updated at 00:38 GMT, Wednesday, 7 May 2008 01:38 UK

Obama \'wins North Carolina vote\'

Barack Obama has beaten Hillary Clinton in the North Carolina primary, US media project, but most TV networks say Indiana\'s vote is too close to call.

Ballots are being counted in the two US states following the last major Democratic primaries, which help decide the party\'s White House nominee.

Early results show Mrs Clinton ahead in Indiana.

Observers say if she were to lose both primaries it would all but eliminate her from the nomination contest.

The two rivals have been locked in a drawn-out battle to stand against Republican John McCain in November\'s presidential vote.

Unassailable lead?

There were boos from supporters at the Clinton campaign\'s election night gathering in Indianapolis, Indiana, as TV networks began to project a victory for Mr Obama in North Carolina.

In Indiana, with 50% of votes counted, Mrs Clinton was leading with 55% to Mr Obama\'s 45%.

Most US television networks say the race is too close to call, although CBS is projecting a win for Mrs Clinton.

Indiana is home to large numbers of blue-collar workers, a group which has backed to Mrs Clinton in previous contests.

In North Carolina, Mr Obama was expected to benefit from the votes of African-Americans, who make up more than a third of the electorate there.

Mrs Clinton, 60, has cut Mr Obama\'s lead in North Carolina to single digits in most polls over recent weeks and the two have been close in Indiana, where she has had the edge.

Before voting began, Mr Obama, 46, told reporters in Greenwood, Indiana: "I think we\'ve campaigned hard. I think it\'s going to be close. I\'m seeing a lot of enthusiasm."

New York Senator Mrs Clinton told reporters in Indianapolis: "Every race is filled with the unexpected. It\'s like life. You never know what\'s going to happen."

The Republicans also held primaries in Indiana and North Carolina on Tuesday, although analysts say the votes were largely symbolic as Senator McCain - their one remaining candidate - has already effectively sewn up the nomination.

Mr Obama, an Illinois senator, has an almost unassailable lead in delegates, the Democratic party officials who will choose the nominee at their convention in August.

Altogether, 187 delegates are at stake in Indiana and North Carolina, nearly half the remaining total. Six state contests are left.

Mr Obama was leading the race in delegates by 1,745 to 1,608, according to an Associated Press count on Tuesday.

But neither can win enough delegates to clinch the race before voting ends on 3 June.

This means that nearly 800 super-delegates - senior party members - will have the final say.

Clinton \'re-energised\'

The two Democrats, courting voters suffering from an ailing economy, have spent recent days sparring over Mrs Clinton\'s proposal to suspend the federal petrol tax for the summer.

Mr Obama and many economists called the plan a political gimmick that would save little money for most families.

But Mrs Clinton launched an advertisement in both states questioning her rival\'s stance. She said the plan would be financed by a windfall tax on oil firms.

Analysts say Mrs Clinton saved her candidacy with her win in Pennsylvania two weeks ago.

Mr Obama has struggled through a rocky campaign stretch, dogged by controversy over his gaffe that small-town residents were "bitter" and fiery criticisms of America by his former pastor, Rev Jeremiah Wright.

His failure to lock up the nomination has sparked doubts about whether he can attract the white, working class voters needed for Democrats to win in November, analysts say.

Mr Obama received a publicity boost on Monday with an endorsement from Hollywood star Tom Hanks and narrowly beat Mrs Clinton the day before in a caucus at the tiny Pacific territory of Guam.

Because of the way the Democratic Party distributes the vote, each candidate won two delegates.

The remaining Democratic primaries will take place over the next month in West Virginia, Oregon, Kentucky, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.