By Gary Barlow

Staff writer

The Feb. 5 “Super Tuesday” primaries and caucuses did little to settle the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination, with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama both claiming big wins en route to upcoming primaries later this month and in March.

Obama, as expected, easily claimed victory in Illinois, winning 65 percent of the vote in his home state. But Clinton claimed an even bigger prize by winning her adopted state of New York by a 57-40 percent margin.

All told, as votes were still being counted early Feb. 6, Obama had won the most states on Feb. 5, with 13 victories, but Clinton won more where it counted most, with her wins in eight states including some of the largest—New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts—and the biggest prize of all, California.

“Tonight we are hearing the voices of people across America,” Clinton told supporters at a post-election rally in New York City. “After seven years of a president who only listens to special interests, we are ready for a president who brings your voices, your issues and your dreams to your White House.”

Shortly after Clinton spoke, Obama took the stage at a rally at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago.

“Our time has come, our movement is real, and change is coming to America,” Obama said.

Clinton’s wins maintained her edge for delegates to the Democrats’ nominating convention later this year, with a 740-629 margin over Obama as votes were still being counted early Feb. 6.

Now the two candidates move on to other primaries, including Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C Feb. 12 and Wisconsin Feb. 19. Obama is thought to be favored in those states.

But Clinton is looking ahead to more delegate-rich contests in Ohio, Texas and Pennsylvania in March. Her campaign called for four more debates between the two candidates between now and March 4.