Obama Wins Party Nomination for US Senate
Mr Barack Obama, the son of a Kenyan businessman, is now one difficult step away from winning a seat in the US Senate following his historic landslide victory in yesterday's Democratic Party nominations in the state of Illinois.
Mr Obama exceeded even optimistic expectations by winning more than half of the votes in a seven-person race. Strong support from white as well as black Democrats put him at 55 per cent - more than double the share of the vote received by his closest competitor.
Mr Obama, a 42-year-old Illinois state legislator, will now face millionaire Republican Jack Ryan in the November election.
Mr Obama begins that race as the favourite in generally Democratic Illinois, although his mixed-race heritage could cause him to be shunned by some voters in a state with a history of racial division.
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Obama Wins Party Nomination for US Senate