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Clinton wins Nevada while McCain marches on

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Clinton now 1.55 to seal Democratic nomination...

John McCain saw off nearest rival Mike Huckabee to win the South Carolina Republican Primary last night by 33 percent to 30.

McCain is now the even money favourite to win the Republican nomination on 49% ([2.04]), suggesting the win in South Carolina had a more significant impact on the race than Mitt Romney's victory in Nevada, where he won comfortably with 51% of the vote with second place Ron Paul on just 14%.

The South Carolina contest was very much a must win for Huckabee and question marks now hang over how long he will continue with only the Florida primary standing between now and Super Tuesday - a contest in which he is not expected to figure, currently 13.8% ([7.2)] on Betfair. His chances of winning the overall nomination have also drifted to 0.6% ([16.5]) and the outlook is bleak for his campaign.

Meanwhile in the Democratic race Hillary Clinton secured an important victory in Nevada, beating rival Barack Obama 51% to 45. Obama had gone into the contest as favourite and the race was neck-and-neck throughout most of the night.

Clinton is now 66% ([1.51]) to win the nomination with Barack Obama on 33% ([3]). John Edwards, who finished with 4% of the vote in Nevada, now appears to be very much out of the contest.

The South Carolina Democratic Primary is next Saturday and this is a key state for Barack Obama. He is the hot 82% ([1.24]) favourite to secure a victory in the first of the Southern states to hold a primary and victory is vital to stop Clinton developing unstoppable momentum ahead of Florida on 29th January and Super Tuesday on 5th February.