Edwards may still be asked by Kerry to run as his vice-president
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US Senator John Edwards has pulled out of the race for the Democratic presidential nomination following his defeat in the "Super Tuesday" polls.
In an emotional speech to a crowd in Raleigh, North Carolina, Mr Edwards praised Senator John Kerry who will now face George W Bush.
"The truth of the matter is John Kerry has what it takes," he said.
Speculation is now increasing that Mr Edwards may be picked by Mr Kerry as his vice-presidential running mate.
Mr Edwards, a North Carolina senator, failed to win any of the 10 states on Tuesday and throughout the race only won his native state of South Carolina.
In conceding the race to Mr Kerry, Mr Edwards said he would provide full support to the Massachusetts senator's White House bid.
"He has what it takes to be president and I for one intend to do everything in my power to help," he said.
Bush campaign
Meanwhile the president's own campaign is to release its first television advertisements on Thursday.
Some of the adverts are expected to emphasise Mr Bush's leadership through the 11 September 2001 attacks and the aftermath.
Others emphasise his commitment to domestic issues, Reuters news agency reported.
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says Mr Bush will be hoping to bury his rival in the next few months by using the power of the presidency, the Republicans' $100m war chest and high-profile advertising campaigns.
The adverts are gentle for the moment but both sides acknowledge that a bare knuckle fight is in the offing, our correspondent adds.
'Change is coming'
On Tuesday Mr 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".
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SUPER TUESDAY VOTE
Forecasts based on exit polls and first results
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"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 wins in 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.
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.
"While I ran for president I often said that America would be a better place if it was more like Vermont," Mr Dean said in a statement.
"I still believe that to be true."
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.
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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.
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SUPER TUESDAY RESULTS
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Kerry
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Edwards
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Other
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California
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65%
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20%
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15%
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Connecticut
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58%
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24%
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17%
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Georgia
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47%
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42%
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12%
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Maryland
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60%
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26%
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15%
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Massachusetts
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72%
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18%
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10%
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Minnesota
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51%
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27%
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22%
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New York
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60%
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20%
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19%
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Ohio
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52%
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34%
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12%
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Rhode Island
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71%
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19%
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10%
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Vermont
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34%
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n/a
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65%
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Source: AP
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