US:BARACK OBAMA and Hillary Clinton face off today in West Virginia, in a primary the former first lady is expected to win by a wide margin despite the near meltdown of her presidential campaign. The result in the mountain state will have little impact on the contest for delegates and Mrs Clinton remains under pressure to withdraw from the Democratic race.
Both candidates campaigned in the state yesterday, where the latest poll gives Mrs Clinton a 36 point lead but Mr Obama told an audience in Charleston that he expects to lose today's primary.
"I'm honoured that some of you will support me, and I understand that many more here in West Virginia will probably support Senator Clinton. But when it's over, what will unify as Democrats - what must unify us as Americans - is an unyielding commitment to the men and women who've served this nation and an unshakable fidelity to the ideals for which they've risked their lives," he said.
Mrs Clinton's campaign has acknowledged that it is $20 million in debt, including a loan of more than $11 million from the candidate herself and her support within the Democratic Party leadership is evaporating. She insists, however, that she will not withdraw from the race until all remaining states have voted on June 3rd.
Both campaigns have dismissed reports that they are negotiating a deal that could involve Mr Obama adopting Mrs Clinton as his running mate or paying off her campaign debts.
Mr Obama's chief strategist, David Axelrod, said there had been no overtures to persuade Mrs Clinton to end her campaign and ruled out any financial deal. "I don't think she's waiting for a cue or a signal from us or an offer of financial assistance. And I think that would demean her to suggest otherwise," he said.
"I don't think even under any scenario . . . that we were going to transfer money from the Obama campaign to the Clinton campaign. We obviously need the resources we have. We have a great task ahead of us." Apart from her financial troubles, Mrs Clinton has seen a steady flight of super delegates - party insiders who account for one fifth of the nominating delegates - to Mr Obama. Mr Obama has won over 22 new super delegates in the past week - including five who formerly supported Mrs Clinton - and he is now ahead among super delegates, pledged delegates, number of states won and the popular vote.
Mr Obama is turning his attention to the general election battle with Republican John McCain, campaigning in the swing state of Missouri today and in Florida and Michigan later this month.
"Our schedule reflects the fact that we are still fighting for votes and delegates in the remaining contests but also that we are going to places that are going to be competitive in the fall," said Mr Obama's spokesman Bill Burton.
"John McCain has gone unchallenged for far too long, and we're going to make sure that voters in competitive states know the choice in this election between changing Washington and the third term of George Bush's failed policies that McCain is offering."