Clinton vows to go 'all the way'
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COLUMBUS, Ohio (CNN) - Sen. Hillary Clinton claimed victory in Ohio Tuesday night and vowed to take the win "all the way" to the Democratic nomination for president.
"For everyone here in Ohio and across America who was counted out but refused to be knocked out, for everyone who has stumbled but got back up, for everyone who works hard but never gives up, this one is for you," she said.
"You know what they say," she said. "As Ohio goes, so goes the nation. Well, this nation's coming back and so is this campaign."
Texas Democrats report complaints over caucuses
(CNN) - Following a Clinton campaign call alleging irregularities in the Texas Democratic caucuses, a state party representative told CNN that voters had been registering similar complaints with the party Tuesday evening.
“It is important to understand when you see a turnout in these numbers you are going to witness some problems, and the Texas Democratic Party has taken all the steps it can to make sure the process is run as smoothly as possible,” said Hector Nieto, the state party’s communications director. “We understand that there are voters across the state that have concerns, and we urge them to contact the call center.”
Nieto said the Texas Democratic Party had established a call center with 200 phone lines that was staffed by lawyers to “address any concerns.”
Nieto was unable to provide a time when the results of the caucuses would be made public. At stake in Tuesday evening’s party-run caucuses were 67 delegates. Earlier in the day, 126 delegates were on the line in the state-run primary.
- CNN's Mark Preston and Rebecca Sinderbrand
Schneider: Some troubling results for McCain
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(CNN) - John McCain clinched the Republican nomination tonight with big wins in Texas and Ohio.
But looking at the exit polls out of Texas - a state McCain must carry in the general election to win the presidency - trouble remains for the Arizona senator.
Despite the fact McCain is certain to carry his party's banner in the general election, he only narrowly carried Texas conservatives over Huckabee (48-40 percent). They made up more than two-thirds of all Texas Republican voters, and it is imperative they show up to vote for McCain in November. Also, McCain only managed to tie Huckabee among late deciders, another indication many Republicans aren't ready to rally behind McCain.
Another troubling statistic: More Texas Republican voters said they were looking for a candidate that shares their values over any other quality - and those voters picked Huckabee by 25 points over McCain (57-32 percent).
Translation: McCain captured his party's nomination tonight, but he still has a lot of work ahead of him to convince the base he's their guy.
Related: Watch McCain speak to supporters about being the Republican nominee
–CNN's Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
McCain wins GOP nomination, Huckabee withdraws
[cnn-photo-caption image=http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/POLITICS/03/04/march.4.contests/t1land.mccain.wave.ap.jpg caption="Sen. John McCain clinched the GOP presidential nomination Tuesday, according to CNN projections."]
DALLAS, Texas (CNN) - Sen. John McCain accepted the mantle of presumptive GOP nominee for president, thanking his supporters in Rhode Island, Texas, Ohio and Vermont - states he won Tuesday night to take him over the top in delegates.
"I am very, very grateful and pleased to note that tonight, my friends, we have won enough delegates to claim with confidence, humility and a great sense of responsibility, that I will be the Republican nominee for president of the United States," the Arizona senator said.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee quit the presidential race after it became clear that McCain would win the Republican nomination, after winning Tuesday's GOP primaries.
"It's now important that we turn our attention not to what could have been or what we wanted to have been, but now what must be - and that is a united party," Huckabee told supporters in Dallas, Texas, after losing Tuesday's primary in Texas and three other states.
Huckabee, a former Baptist pastor, thanked volunteers for "keeping the faith" and told them, "I'd rather lose an election than lose the principles that got me into politics in the first place."
"Tonight, I hope that our battle was never about us," he said. "It was about our country and our liberty. And now we join with Sen. McCain and the rest of our party to continue that battle."
Huckabee drew first blood in the GOP race, winning the January 3 Iowa caucuses, and won several Deep South states in the February 5 "Super Tuesday" contests. But he struggled to gain traction outside the region, while McCain won big states like New York and California handily and swept Tuesday's contests in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont.
Huckabee's exit leaves anti-war Texas congressman Ron Paul, a former Libertarian presidential candidate, as McCain's sole remaining opponent.
McCain's campaign - his second run for the White House - was largely written off for dead last summer amid outspoken opposition from the party's conservative base, a major staff shakeup and disappointing fund-raising.
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Obama lawyer crashes Clinton conference call
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WASHINGTON (CNN) – Barack Obama’s campaign lawyer Bob Bauer crashed a conference call convened by Hillary Clinton’s campaign Tuesday evening, sparring with Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson in an exchange that lasted several minutes.
Bauer dialed into the call that was intended to update the media on alleged irregularities in Texas caucus voting and identified himself to Wolfson’s surprise.
“Nice of you to call. How are you?” said a startled Wolfson when Bauer introduced himself.
The two men then proceeded to battle over the Clinton campaign’s complaints over caucus voting in Nevada and in Texas, with Bauer directly asking the Clinton campaign to “Stop attacking the caucus process.”
Wolfson responded by challenging Bauer to work closely with the Clinton campaign to ensure there were no irregularities in the Texas caucuses.
“I would ask you to join with us this evening in ensuring that the serious problems that are ongoing as we speak in Texas are addressed,” Wolfson said, adding that they did not hold Bauer "personally responsible.”
Bauer returned to his original charge, saying that the Clinton campaign had attempted to interfere with the process in both Iowa and Nevada, adding: “How is this (complaint) any different than the series of complaints registered against every caucus that you lose?"
After several minutes, Wolfson ended the conversation, telling Bauer he looked forward to "asking our own questions on subsequent calls of yours."
Obama, Clinton call McCain to offer congratulations
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(CNN) - Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama called Republican John McCain at 8:30 CST from his hotel in San Antonio, Texas. He congratulated the Arizona senator on his apparent victory in the GOP contest, and told him he looks forward to running against him in the fall.
–CNN's Candy Crowley and Jessica Yellin
UPDATE: CNN's Candy Crowley and Dana Bash report that Hillary Clinton also called John McCain Tuesday night to offer congratulations on his win.
Schneider: Clinton's delegate problem
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(CNN) - In what may be bad news for Clinton, Democrats across all four states overwhelmingly say they want super delegates to vote based on which candidate finishes ahead in the pledged delegate count at the end of the primary season.
Majorities of Democrats in Texas (62 percent), Ohio (61 percent), Rhode Island (57 percent) and Vermont (66 percent) all said the super delegates should cast their vote for the primary winner, not for who they think can best win in November.
Why is this bad news for Clinton? As CNN's John King has made clear on his interactive delegate map, it is nearly impossible for Clinton to catch up to Obama's pledged delegate count. She would have to win the rest of the states convincingly to do so, given that the party allots delegates proportionally. Barring large blowouts in the remaining contests, its likely Clinton will finish behind Obama in pledged delegates.
Related Video: CNN Political Editor Mark Preston discusses Tuesday's results
–CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
Schneider: Seniors give Clinton a boost
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(CNN) - One of the statistics in the exit polls I wanted to watch out for was the senior vote - Clinton needs to win big among this group to stay competitive with Obama, and tonight's exit polls show she is doing just that.
The New York senator only won two age groups in Texas and Ohio (50-64 and 65+) - but together those age groups make up roughly 45 percent of the electorate in both states.
In Ohio, she's winning the 50-64 bloc by 20 points and the 65+ vote by 40 points. In Texas, her margins of victory in those blocs are 11 points and 30 points respectively. It's imperative Clinton's support among these groups hold to counterbalance Obama's overwhelming popularity among young voters and his edge with those who are middle-aged.
–CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
Bush to endorse McCain at the White House Wednesday
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(CNN) - President Bush will officially endorse John McCain's presidential run Wednesday at the White House. The two men will have a private lunch followed by a joint public statement.
The move by the president, who remained neutral throughout the Republican primary process, comes after a victory in Texas that gave McCain more than the 1,191 delegates required to claim the GOP nomination. The Arizona senator's remaining primary season rival, Mike Huckabee, withdrew from the presidential race Tuesday night.
–CNN Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash
UPDATE: CNN's Robert Yoon and Dana Bash report that McCain will pay a visit to Republican National Committee headquarters after his White House visit.
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