Obama Scores Win in Vermont

WASHINGTON — Senator Obama defeated Senator Clinton in the Vermont primary tonight, and the two Democratic rivals dueled across Ohio, Texas, and Rhode Island in a riveting race for the party's presidential nomination. Senator McCain edged closer to the delegates needed to secure his Republican triumph after a decade's struggle.

The Vermont victory was Mr. Obama's 12th straight over the former first lady and left her desperate to rebound later in the night in the other three states holding elections.

Mr. McCain added first Vermont, then Ohio to his column in the Republican race, and moved to within about 130 of the delegate total needed to clinch the nomination. Aides readied a giant banner bearing the magic number — 1,191 — to serve as a backdrop for an anticipated victory celebration in Dallas.

The Associated Press made its calls based on surveys of voters as they left the polls.

In all there were 370 Democratic delegates at stake in Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio, and in Texas, which used an unusual primary-caucus system.