Exit Polls Suggest Clinton Win

The Democratic presidential contest is set to run for at least several more weeks after exit polls suggested Hillary Clinton would beat Barack Obama in the Pennsylvania primary tonight.

When voting ended, the breakdown of the exit polls signaled that Clinton would emerge the winner. But the polls were not clear enough for the television companies to declare a winner, describing the vote as "very competitive" and too close to call.

Clinton was scheduled to hold a victory party in Philadelphia but Obama, anticipating defeat, had left the state for Indiana, where the next contest will be held on May 6.

It was the first primary since Mississippi six weeks ago.

A win in Pennsylvania would help her case for remaining in the race, though Obama has established an almost unassailable lead with only nine contests left.

In a record turnout, she was helped by a large turnout of older voters and women, both of whom have tended to vote for her. Younger voters, who tend to support Obama, made up a smaller proportion than in previous contests.

The balance was held by white male votes, a majority of whom backed Clinton by 55% to 45%.A win in Pennsylvania helps her case for remaining in the race, though Obama has established an almost unassailable lead with only nine contests left. African-Americans threw their weight overwhelmingly behind Obama, by 92% to Clinton's 8.

One cause for concern for Clinton is that a majority of voters, 67%, thought she had attacked Obama unfairly. This compared with 49% who thought he had attacked her unfairly.

These are the most negative figures since the South Carolina primary in January where race was an issue, with the Clintons blamed for raising it.

Election officials reported record turnouts across the state - in Philadelphia and its environs which Obama is expected to dominate as well as in the small towns of western and central Pennsylvania where Clinton is believed to have an advantage.

Early concerns about faulty voting machines faded as the day wore on.

By evening, Clinton supporters were quietly confident of a win. Joe Sestak, a former navy admiral now serving his first term in Congress, and a Clinton supporter, told reporters he believed that Clinton would win by at least 5% - a clear victory, but still short of the margin needed to alter the dyanmics of the race.

But in central Philadelphia it appeared as if the day belonged to Obama. His supporters were out in force on street corners, handing out leaflets and holding up signs. One volunteer said the campaign had gone to the extent of leafleting lockers in local sports clubs.

Supporters spelling out his name in large blue and white signs and chanting "Barack the Vote" stood in front of the television trucks parked in front of the hotel hosting Clinton's election night party.

The next contests are North Carolina and Indiana on May 6, with Obama expected to take the first and the second too close to call according to polls. She expects to take West Virginia and Kentucky while he hopes to take Oregon and South Dakota. Montana is too close to call.