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DES MOINES, Iowa - Barack Obama claimed a 'milestone' majority of elected delegates in the Democratic White House race, declaring after Tuesday's two end-game primaries he was "within reach" of the nomination.
Hillary Clinton, 60, thumped the Illinois Senator in Kentucky, but Obama, on a historic quest to become America's first black president, hit back with his own triumph in the liberal western state of Oregon.
Obama, 46, claimed his milestone before around 7,000 supporters in the midwestern swing state of Iowa, where he launched his now apparently inexorable march to the nomination by winning the first voting showdown in January.
"We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America," Obama said.
Looking to ease Democratic Party divisions, and with an eye on a general election campaign, Obama warmly praised Clinton but skewered likely Republican foe John McCain.
Clinton's coalition of white, working class voters held rock solid in Kentucky, and raised new questions about Obama's appeal with the crucial swing bloc in a general election.
New York Senator Clinton vowed anew not to give up until after the closely fought Democratic primary season ends on June 3.
"It's not just Kentucky bluegrass that's music to my ears. It's the sound of your overwhelming vote of confidence even in the face of some pretty tough odds," she told raucous supporters in Louisville.
"I'm going to keep making our case until we have a nominee, whoever she may be," Clinton said with a wide smile at her victory party.
With all precincts reporting in Kentucky, Clinton won 65 percent to 30 percent in the socially conservative state -- a lead of more than 250,000 votes.
Despite claiming a majority of elected delegates, media groups projected that Obama would still end the night at least 70 short of the 2,026 delegates to August's Democratic Party nominating convention needed to officially claim the nomination under party rules.
Clinton's sole hope of depriving him of his prize now rests in a wholesale defection of unelected superdelegates, top party officials who can vote how they like at the convention.
Television projections gave Obama a victory in Oregon. With 11 percent of precincts reporting, he led Clinton by nearly 40,000 votes.
In his speech, Obama was fulsome in his praise of his indefatigable Democratic rival.
"Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age," he said.
But Obama hammered McCain, in the latest spat of a fierce foreign policy row.
"The Bush policy that asks everything of our troops and nothing of Iraqi politicians is John McCain's policy too.
"So is the fear of tough and aggressive diplomacy that has left this country more isolated and less secure than at any time in recent history."
President George W. Bush last week implicitly accused Obama of wanting to appease dictators, with his offer to speak to some of America's most sworn foes -- and McCain launched his own fierce attack on the same lines.
In a new sign of his growing political might, Obama's campaign said he had raised 31 million dollars in April.
Clinton's communications chief Howard Wolfson said her campaign raised 22 million dollars in the same month.
Both Obama and Clinton were heading to Florida Wednesday. The Sunshine State's primary results, like Michigan's, were voided by Democratic bosses over a scheduling row.
Clinton however claims she has won the popular vote, if Michigan and Florida are counted, and argues she would therefore be the strongest nominee.
The last contests in the race are in Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.
- AFP /ls
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