Obama Closes In On Dem Nomination

Illinois Senator Has Majority Of Pledged Delegates With Oregon Victory; Clinton Easily Wins Kentucky, But Campaign In The Red

(CBS/AP) 
CBS News correspondent Dean Reynolds reports that Obama wants to further the impression that he is the big winner Tuesday without painting Clinton as the big loser. He also pointed out the significance of the delegate milestone in an interview with CBS News.

"What it means is we've won the majority of delegates that have been assigned by voters during the primaries and caucuses," Obama said. "Hopefully we'll be able to secure the nomination in the coming weeks and then focus our attention on the real choice that the American people are going to have."

In fresh indications that their race was coming to an end, Clinton and Obama praised one another during their speeches and pledged a united party for the general election.

"While we continue to go toe-to-toe for this nomination, we do see eye-to-eye when it comes to uniting our party to elect a Democratic president this fall," said Clinton, whose supporters Obama will need if he is to win in November.

"We have had our disagreements during this campaign, but we all admire her courage, her commitment and her perseverance," Obama said of his rival and partner in a marathon race through the primaries. "No matter how this primary ends, Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age."

But in a sign of confidence on the front-runner's part, party officials said discussions were under way to send Paul Tewes, a top Obama campaign aide, to the Democratic National Committee to oversee operations for the fall campaign.

While Obama lavished praise on Clinton, he focused his attention on the general election battle with McCain.

Obama said he would leave it up to the Arizona senator "to explain whether his policies and positions represent long-held convictions or Washington calculations, but the one thing they don't represent is change."

McCain's spokesman countered quickly.

"This election is fundamentally about who Americans can trust to secure peace and prosperity for the next generation of Americans. Without a doubt, Barack Obama is a talented political orator, but his naive plans for unconditional summits with rogue leaders and support for big tax hikes on hardworking families expose his bad judgment that Americans can ill-afford in our next president," said Tucker Bounds in a statement.

In the fundraising chase, Obama reported cash on hand of $46.5 million at the end of April, all of which can be used for the general election. Unless he takes federal funds, he is permitted to raise as much as he can.

McCain reported almost $22 million cash on hand. Unlike Obama, McCain is expected to take federal funds for the fall campaign, which total about $85 million and bar him from raising other donations for his campaign's use.

Clinton reported $30 million cash on hand at the end of the reporting period, but also almost $19.5 million in debt.

"We still have work to do to in the remaining states, where we will compete for every delegate available," Obama said in an e-mail sent to supporters. "But tonight, I want to thank you for everything you have done to take us this far - farther than anyone predicted, expected or even believed possible."

Clinton looked for a consolation for the strongest presidential campaign of any woman in history. She hoped to finish with more votes than her rival in all the contests combined, including Florida and Michigan, two states that were stripped of their delegates by the national party for moving their primary dates too early. A Democratic convention committee is to meet on May 31 in Washington to decide how - and whether - to seat delegates from the two states.

The only primaries remaining are Puerto Rico, on June 1, followed two days later by South Dakota and Montana. (See the full calendar.)

The candidates paused during the day to express best wishes to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Massachusetts Democrat suffering from a brain tumor.

"So many of us here have benefited in some way or another because of the battles he's waged, and some of us are here because of them," Obama said.

Said Clinton: "As a lifelong champion for social justice and equality, his work has made the path easier for me, for Senator Obama and for countless others. He's been with us for our fights and we're now with him in his."

"I have said on numerous occasions, I have described Ted Kennedy as the last lion in the Senate," said McCain. "And I have held that view because he remains the single most effective member of the Senate if you want to get results. He is not reluctant to share the credit. And when he fails, he is willing to take the blame."