Kerry wraps up Democrats contest

Vietnam veteran John Kerry has continued his strong showing

John Kerry is to become the Democratic challenger in the US presidential election this November after winning nine out of 10 "Super Tuesday" states.

Exit polls and first results showed him eclipsing his main rival, John Edwards, from New York to California.

Mr Edwards is expected to announce on Wednesday that he is quitting the race.

For the past 40 years no Democratic candidate, unless they were a sitting president or vice-president, has been able to claim the nomination so early.

President George W Bush phoned to tell Mr Kerry he anticipated a "spirited race" with him.

"We had a very nice conversation," said the Massachusetts senator, before condemning the incumbent's "inept" policies and promising to repair America's foreign partnerships, bringing it back into the "community of nations".

SUPER TUESDAY VOTE Forecasts based on exit polls and first results Ohio: Kerry win Maryland: Kerry win Massachusetts: Kerry win Connecticut: Kerry win New York: Kerry win Rhode Island: Kerry win Georgia: Kerry win Vermont: Dean win California: Kerry win Minnesota: Kerry win Click here for results in detail Kerry victory speech

"The message could not be clearer," said Mr Kerry in his victory speech. "All across our country change is coming to America.

"I believe that in 2004 - with one united Democratic Party - we can and we will win this election."

Apart from New York and California, Mr Kerry won in Ohio, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Minnesota and - narrowly - Georgia.

Prior to the "Super Tuesday" polls, Mr Kerry had won 18 of the 20 states contested in the race for the nomination.

Mr Edwards, a North Carolina senator, has had one victory - in his native state of South Carolina.

Click here to see a bar chart showing delegates allotted so far

In the one surprise of the night, Howard Dean, who had already abandoned his bid for the candidacy, won in Vermont by a margin of two to one. He previously served as governor there.

Tuesday's voters elected 1,151 delegates to the Democratic Party convention in July - a figure which represents 53% of the total number needed for a candidate to secure the nomination.

Vice-president?

Campaign sources who spoke to the AP and AFP news agencies said the end was in sight for Mr Edwards.

Edwards has been putting a brave face on his losses

"I'm afraid it's true," said one. "He's dropped out. It looks like the end."

Mr Edwards earlier rejected the suggestion that he might run as Mr Kerry's vice-presidential candidate.

However, Mr Kerry hinted that he might consider his rival for the vice-presidency saying he had "great respect" for him.

In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was holding a victory rally to celebrate a separate vote on his controversial plan to save the state from financial ruin.

Californians appeared to have approved the issuing of a $15bn bond to pay off some of the state's huge debts.

Real battle begins

In his victory speech in Washington, Mr Kerry attacked President Bush's foreign policy as "the most inept, reckless, arrogant and ideological" in modern US history.

KEY CAMPAIGN DATES 9 March - Primaries in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas 26-29 July - Democrat national convention in Boston 30 Aug-2 Sep - Republican national convention in New York 2 Nov - Presidential election

"If George Bush wants to make national security the central issue of the campaign of 2004, I have three words for him, and I know he understands - bring it on."

He warned of the Republican party's "attack machine" but said his campaign was equal to the task.

Mr Bush is set to launch his own campaign on Thursday with a multi-million-dollar TV advertising campaign.

His message of congratulations to Mr Kerry was tempered by an appearance on television by Vice-President Dick Cheney, who condemned the senator's record.

"He very clearly has over the years adopted a series of positions that indicate a desire to cut the defence budget, cut the intelligence budget, to eliminate many major weapons programmes," he said.

Mr Cheney confirmed he would be running for vice-president again with Mr Bush.

DELEGATES ALLOTTED SO FAR

Most delegates who vote for a candidate at the national presidential nominating convention are allocated according to a candidate's support in state-wide caucuses or polls; some delegates are assigned for party leaders and elected officials to allocate.

SUPER TUESDAY RESULTS
	Kerry	Edwards	Other
California	65%	20%	15%
Connecticut	58%	24%	17%
Georgia	47%	42%	12%
Maryland	60%	26%	15%
Massachusetts	72%	18%	10%
Minnesota	51%	27%	22%
New York	60%	20%	19%
Ohio	52%	34%	12%
Rhode Island	71%	19%	10%
Vermont	34%	n/a	65%
Source: AP

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