Clinton rolls to an easy win in Puerto Rico
With about half of the island's Democratic primary votes counted, she leads Obama 68% to 32%.
SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Hillary Rodham Clinton scored an easy victory in today's Puerto Rico primary, a widely expected win that underscores the advantage she has held among Latino voters over Democratic rival Barack Obama.
Early returns from Puerto Rico showed Clinton with roughly a 2-1 edge among the island's Democratic voters. With about half of the votes counted, Clinton led 68% to 32%.
Still, Clinton's victory in Puerto Rico, where 55 pledged delegates were at stake, was far too little for her to overtake her opponent's lead in the delegate count -- and leaves Obama the strong front-runner in the Democratic race.
Only two primaries remain, Tuesday's contests in South Dakota and Montana, states too small by themselves to turn the race in Clinton's favor.
Saturday's decision by the Democratic National Committee's rules panel to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations raised the number of delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination. Still, Obama could lock up the race with a possible rush of superdelegates coming to his side this week.
Clinton's Puerto Rico triumph continues the string of lopsided victories that each of the two candidates has chalked up in recent weeks, as they have competed in states whose demographics play to their differing strengths among Democratic voters.
The New York senator has proved popular among Latinos around the country, but in Puerto Rico the bond was especially strong, thanks to her home state's deep ties to the island commonwealth.
She plans to speak to supporters at a victory rally here later today.
Obama, speaking in midafternoon in Mitchell, S.D., told a few thousand people gathered outside the Corn Palace that he had just spoken to Clinton and congratulated her for winning the Puerto Rico primary.
He called her an "outstanding public servant" who had "worked tirelessly" and would be a great asset to the Democratic Party in the general election.
"I know there are a lot of concerns about whether the party will come together after this long contest," he said. He told the crowd holding "Change We Can Believe In" signs, "She is going to be a great asset when we go into November to make sure that we can defeat the Republicans, I can promise you."
He then quickly segued into an attack on President Bush and John McCain, saying that the difference between himself and Clinton pale in comparison to those between the Democrats and the Republicans. Obama said McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, "is running to continue George Bush's policies."
