Clinton Beats Obama in West Virginia

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) claimed an easy victory over Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) in West Virginia's presidential primary today, a win that increased the likelihood of her continued candidacy but did little to alter her position as a decided underdog in the race for the Democratic nomination.

Polls closed in the Mountain State at 7:30 p.m. eastern time, and moments later the television networks had called the race in Clinton's favor. The former first lady entered the race the strong favorite, and the latest polling suggested she would win by a wide margin.

For Clinton, the win - while expected - will further help her to justify remaining in the race despite her drubbing by Obama last week in North Carolina and her very narrow win in Indiana.

"I am more determined than ever to carry on this campaign until everyone has had a chance to make their voices heard," Clinton said defiantly during a victory rally in Charleston, W.Va., shortly after 9 p.m. eastern time. Clinton referenced her comebacks in January's New Hampshire primary and then again in Ohio and Texas in early March as evidence that she has been counted out before and is still standing. "This race isn't over yet," she said. "I am in this race because I believe I'm the strongest candidate."

Meanwhile, Sen. Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.), an Obama supporter, dismissed the potential problems of the clearly divided Democratic electorate -- arguing that when faced with a choice between Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain, many of these voters would side with Obama. "Voters are going to have a very clear choice," Casey said in an interview on MSNBC.

Clinton and her advisers have insisted that the contest is not yet over because neither she nor Obama have secured the total of 2,025 delegates needed to become the party's nominee. Those familiar with her thinking believe she is likely to stay in the race through at least June 3, when primaries in South Dakota and Montana will bring the nomination contest to a close.