Barack Obama Wins North Carolina, Hillary Clinton squeaks by in Indiana

By Celeste Katz and David Saltonstall
Daily News Staff Writers

Hillary Clinton blew her last, best chance to turn in a game-changing primary win Tuesday night, as Barack Obama rolled to a landslide in North Carolina while Clinton barely edged him in Indiana.

With 99% of precincts counted early Wednesday, Clinton led 51% to 49% in Indiana, holding off a late surge in Obama's tally from populous Lake County, which borders his hometown of Chicago.

In North Carolina, there was no suspense. Obama cruised to a 56%-to-42% win with 99% of precincts counted.

But even with the split of the two primaries, the numerical advantage was going decisively to Obama. North Carolina has more delegates than Indiana (115 to 72), so his win in the Tar Heel State will grow his current delegate lead, and his advantage in bragging rights for the popular vote swelled by some 165,000 votes Tuesday night.

For Clinton, it was hard to find a silver lining. Having once called North Carolina a potential "game-changer," she got buried there.

And the slim victory in Indiana was unlikely to convince superdelegates, donors or others that she is more electable than Obama.

But Clinton depicted the Indiana result as enough of a reason to hang on for the final month of primaries, though she may face increasing pressure to bow out.

The results added an air of confidence to Obama as he took the stage at a rally in North Carolina, where Clinton had campaigned hard while her foe was staggered by a controversy over his former pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

"We have seen that it is possible to overcome the politics of division and the politics of distraction," said Obama. He then pivoted into an appeal for party unity as if he were already the nominee.

"This fall, we intend to march forward as one Democratic Party, united by a common vision," he said. "We can't afford to give John McCain the chance to serve out George Bush's third term."

But he was likely to begin today about 200 delegates short of the 2,024 delegates needed to clinch the nomination. Clinton wasn't talking about throwing in the towel.

Even when the race in Indiana was still too close for most of the networks to call, Clinton put on her game face and declared victory on her own - while also making a plea for online donations.

"Tonight we've come from behind," she told cheering supporters in Indianapolis. "Thanks to you, it's full speed on to the White House."

With no more big states left, the primary race turns to West Virginia next Tuesday, and beyond that Oregon, Kentucky, Puerto Rico and, finally, June 3 primaries in Montana and South Dakota.

The Democrats' marathon has left serious divisions in the party itself, if exit polls in Indiana and North Carolina are any reflection.

Voters in both states were split down the middle on whether Wright factored into their choice.