Obama Wins North Carolina Primary; Indiana Remains Too Close to Call

Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) beat Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) in North Carolina's Democratic presidential primary today, ensuring he will claim at least a split in the two states casting their ballots today.

In Indiana, the race between Clinton and Obama remained too close to call. With 85 percent of the vote in, Clinton held a four-point lead over Obama in the Hoosier State.

Still in doubt are more than 500 precincts in Lake County, which includes the city of Gary, which remain uncounted. Gary has a considerable African American population and all of Lake County is covered by the Chicago media market -- meaning Obama is a better known commodity to these voters.

Clinton emerged just before 10:45 p.m. in Indianapolis, showing no signs of backing down despite her defeat in North Carolina and the uncertainty of the outcome in Indiana.

"We've come from behind," Clinton said. "We've broken the tie and thanks to you it's full speed on to the White House."

In a victory speech in Raleigh, N.C., Obama made clear that North Carolina had not been the "game changer" that Clinton had predicted it would be.

"There were those who were saying North Carolina would be a game changer in this election," Obama said. "What North Carolina decided is the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington, D.C."

Obama also seemed to concede Indiana to Clinton, despite the fact that the majority of television networks have yet to call the Hoosier State and the race appeared to be tightening as the night wore on.

The North Carolina electorate divided sharply along racial lines. As has been the case in nearly every state to vote so far in the nomination fight, African American voters went overwhelmingly for Obama -- 91 percent for the Illinois senator to just six percent for Clinton, according to exit polling. Clinton carried white voters in the Tarheel State convincingly, taking 60 percent to Obama's 38 percent.

Due to Obama's tremendous strength among black voters in North Carolina, he carried nearly every major demographic category as well. Obama won among men 57 percent to 39 percent over Clinton; he won among women, 54 percent to 42 percent.

Voters concerned most about the economy, who had strongly backed Clinton in Ohio and Pennsylvania, went for Obama 51 percent to 45 percent in North Carolina. Obama enjoyed a much more substantial margin among voters who named health care and the war in Iraq as the top issue facing the country.

Clinton entered the day with momentum, born of her decisive victory in Pennsylvania two weeks ago and Obama's struggle to put controversial comments made by the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., his former pastor, behind him.