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March 4, 2008

Clinton, McCain take R.I., with 87% of polls in

Hillary Rodham Clinton and John McCain were beating their closest opponents in the Rhode Island presidential primaries tonight by roughly the same margin -- almost 2 to 1.

Democrat Clinton had 90,358 votes compared to Barack Obama's 61,583, with 87 percent -- or 156 of 179 -- of polling places reporting, according to unofficial state Board of Elections results.

Republican McCain, the Arizona senator, was steam-rolling over former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, 15,223 to 5,064, also with 156 precincts reporting, the unofficial results show. The win helped him secure the GOP nomination, according to the Associated Press.

Polls leading up to today had consistently put Clinton, the New York senator, ahead, but with Obama, the Illinois senator, narrowing the gap in the hotly contested race. But most pundits had expected the race to be much closer, given Obama's recent string of primary victories.

What may become the most historic number of all in Rhode Island is the total number of ballots cast today, as state and local officials signaled an unprecedented turnout for a presidential primary.

The state's 179 polling places closed at 9 p.m. Lines and steady streams of voters appeared to be common around the state, according to Journal reports.

Few technical glitches were reported, though some voters complained of confusion over whether they had disaffiliated or not from previous elections.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports Pam Cotter of projo.com and Journal staff

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 10:58 PM | Permalink

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