WASHINGTON -- Barack Obama swept three more states yesterday as he and Hillary Clinton shifted their focus to Tuesday's Mid-Atlantic primary.
Obama said he was hoping for victories that would give him momentum heading into Tuesday's vote in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He got them in the Louisiana primary and, by 2-1 margins, in the Nebraska and Washington caucuses, along with caucuses in the Virgin Islands.
"People want to turn the page. They want to write a new page in American history," Obama told a party fundraising dinner last night in a cavernous Richmond, Va., arena.
"Today, the voters from the West Coast to the Gulf Coast to the heart of America stood up to say, `Yes, we can,'" he said, as supporters took up that chant. "We won North. We won South. We won in between, and I believe we can win Virginia on Tuesday if you're ready to stand for change."
In Republican contests, Mike Huckabee swamped John McCain in the Kansas caucuses with support from social conservatives. He was also leading in the Washington caucuses and Louisiana primary, based on partial returns. Because neither candidate won a majority in Louisiana, no delegates were awarded, and a state convention next weekend will allocate delegates.
"Clearly, I am pleased by these results, but it is onward and upward to Virginia and Maryland as we head into the Potomac primaries on Tuesday," Huckabee said in a statement.
Clinton also addressed the Democratic dinner in Richmond and prepared for campaign stops in Maryland today and tomorrow.
Clinton focused her remarks largely on John McCain, the likely Republican nominee, and said Democrats don't need to worry that she'll be "knocked out" of the ring, if she's their candidate.
"I am ready to go toe to toe with Senator McCain whenever and wherever he desires," she said.
Clinton is to hold a rally in Bowie this evening after a daylong swing across Virginia, the largest and most closely contested Feb. 12 state. Tomorrow morning, she'll attend an event in White Marsh.
Obama scheduled rallies for tomorrow in Baltimore and College Park.
Huckabee, who campaigned yesterday in Maryland, said he won't end his bid unless McCain locks up the nomination. He refused to concede that the race is over and said voters in future primary and caucus states "deserve more than a coronation. They deserve an election."
