Missouri proved to be another story. Historically a presidential bellwether, the state was almost evenly split between the two Democrats at 1 am Wednesday, with Obama leading by half of a percentage point.

Before California and Missouri were counted, an analysis by The Associated Press based on incomplete vote totals showed that Clinton had won 166 delegates and Obama had won 146 at stake on Tuesday. All told, Clinton had 479 delegates and Obama had 386. Those figures are likely to change as the vote tallies are completed and delegates are awarded under complicated rules that vary from state to state.

“Tonight we are hearing the voices of people across America — people of all ages, of all colours, of all faiths, of all walks of life,” a broadly smiling Clinton told supporters in Manhattan just before 11 pm. “Tonight, in record numbers, you voted not just to make history, but to remake America.”

Obama, who appeared to be building momentum in recent days, held wide leads in states like Minnesota, and ran close behind her in states like New Jersey. That left him poised to pick up a hefty number of delegates, even in some states that Clinton won.

Because most states gave nominating delegates to both Clinton and Obama based on vote proportions, as opposed to winner take all, the two campaigns were predicting on Tuesday that neither candidate would have a blowout lead, setting up an intensifying race as Louisiana, Washington, Virginia, Ohio and Texas hold nominating contests over the next four weeks.

... contd.