Kerry Wins Key Southern States

John Kerry all but clinched the Democratic presidential nomination race last night with solid wins in Virginia and Tennessee, overwhelming his southern opponents in their home region and forcing former Nato commander General Wesley Clark out of the race.

By the early hours of this morning it looked as if only the sudden eruption of a scandal, an extraordinary mistake or dramatic turn in the senator's health could stop his march to the Democratic convention in July.

Senator Kerry won Virginia with 52%, against John Edwards' 27%, and Gen Clark's dismal 9% support. In Tennessee (with 98% of the results in early today), Mr Kerry was also the clear winner with 41% of the vote. Senator Edwards was the runner up with 26%, more narrowly beating Gen Clark into third, with 23%.

Last night's principal victim was Gen Clark. His hopes of emerging as the southern alternative to Senator Kerry's northern liberalism were dashed by the Tennessee result.

"He put all his marbles on Tennessee," said Larry Sabato, a political science professor at the University of Virginia. "His staff is no longer willing to continue without pay."

Matt Bennett, communications director for the Clark campaign, said a formal announcement of Gen Clark's withdrawal would be made today in Little Rock, Arkansas, Clark's hometown. Gen Clark's decision to quit the race came during a private meeting with his wife, Gertrude, and his son, Wesley Clark Jr, his aides said.

Senator Kerry has now won 12 of the first 14 states in the primary race, showing his strength around the country. He told supporters in Virginia last night: "Once again the message rings out loud and clear: Americans are voting for change east and west, in the North and now in the South."

In effect, the Massachusetts senator, who had previously been caricatured as a wealthy Northern liberal, drove a bulldozer over the traditional regional divide in his party, ending the southern tradition of favouring home-grown politicians.

The polls suggested Senator Kerry's military record, his 19 years experience in the Senate, and aura of "electability" overcame sectarian politics, in an increasingly united Democratic party. He easily outpolled Gen Clark among veterans, even though the former Nato commander is southern-raised. Senator Kerry also demonstrated his appeal among African-Americans, winning nearly two thirds of the black vote in Virginia.

The results were also a disappointment for Mr Edwards, from North Carolina, who had presented himself as Mr Kerry's only serious rival after a strong win in South Carolina last week.

His claim to represent the south seemed ruined after yesterday's returns, potentially cutting off the flow of funds to his campaign in the next few weeks of the nomination race.

However, Senator Edwards yesterday said he would fight on, even to Super Tuesday, on March 2, when nine states hold primaries. "This is a campaign, an election, not a coronation," he declared last night.

"Edwards is going to try to claim this reduces it to a one on one race with Kerry," Prof Sabato said. "He's absolutely dreaming."

Senator Kerry's momentum appeared unstoppable last night, as his nomination edged closer to inevitability. He was endorsed by Wisconsin's popular senator Herb Kohl, and there were reports that he had also won the backing of the powerful Teamsters union, which had previously supported Dick Gephardt, who dropped out in January.