http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=694&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20040310/ap_on_el_pr/kerryCHICAGO - John Kerry (news - web sites), with only phantom rivals and pushovers left in the Democratic race, easily won four Southern primaries Tuesday to bring him within striking distance of the presidential nomination.
Kerry swept Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana on a night when the names of old foes remained on ballots printed when there was still a real competition. He was winning more than three-quarters of the votes in Florida and Mississippi, and about two-thirds in the two other states, with more than half of precincts reporting in Texas and almost all reporting elsewhere.
President Bush (news - web sites) had a notable night of his own, if one with even less suspense: The unchallenged president crossed the necessary threshold of 1,255 delegates to wrap up the Republican nomination, according to an Associated Press count.
Campaigning for the March 16 Illinois primary, Kerry criticized the nation's new prescription drug program and argued Bush has done little to help the elderly.
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