Obama, McCain Take Vermont

Barack Obama has defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Vermont primary, and the Democratic rivals are dueling in Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island in their race for the party's presidential nomination.

John McCain has won the Republican primary in Vermont as he reaches out to secure the GOP nomination.

The Democratic victory was Obama's 12th straight over the former first lady, who is desperate to rebound later in the night in the other three states holding elections.

Preliminary results from exit polls of Vermont voters show Barack Obama is winning strong support from white women, working class voters and other groups that usually back Hillary Rodham Clinton.

White women have been a source of strength for the New York senator in Democratic presidential contests so far this year. But in Tuesday's voting in the liberal state, Obama is getting six in 10 of their votes. And he's getting even more than that from white men.

Obama was also getting strong majorities from people over age 65, self-described Democrats, people without college degrees and those earning less than $50,000 annually.