THE US: Senator John Kerry looked set to extend his lead in the race for the nomination to challenge President Bush for the US presidency, with more voters going to the polls last night.
Late afternoon exit polls showed Mr Kerry at 42 per cent, Mr Edwards 31 per cent and Mr Dean at 15 per cent.
Mr Kerry put allegations of a scandal involving an intern behind him, after she denied ever having a relationship with the 61-year-old married father-of-two.
The decorated Vietnam war veteran went into the Wisconsin primary with a clear lead in the polls.
The vote could prove crucial for former campaign front-runner Mr Howard Dean, who recently backtracked on suggestions he would drop out if he failed to win in Wisconsin.
Asked whether he would now stay in the race if he did not win in Wisconsin, he said simply: "Yes." However, the former Vermont governor said he thought he could "overhaul" Mr Kerry in the next major test after Wisconsin, the Super Tuesday primaries on March 2nd, when there are votes in 11 states, including New York and California.
But he added: "If not, I'm going to support whoever the Democratic nominee is. We need to beat George Bush. He is the most irresponsible president in my lifetime." On Monday, Mr Dean lost his second campaign manager in recent weeks. Mr Steve Grossman parted company with the Dean campaign after saying he would back Mr Kerry if Mr Dean lost in Wisconsin.
Mr Kerry's campaign was fully back on track after the allegations about an intern appeared to have been blown out of the water.
He had been linked to a 27-year-old journalist, Ms Alexandra Polier.
But on Monday she said: "I have never had a relationship with Senator Kerry, and the rumours in the press are completely false." A poll on Monday put Mr Kerry well in the lead, with 47 points, followed by Mr Dean on 23. North Carolina Senator John Edwards had 20.
Mr Kerry has won in all of the states to have voted so far, except Oklahoma, which favoured retired general Wesley Clark - now out of the race - and South Carolina, which backed Mr Edwards. Mr Edwards, while promising a fight, is being promoted as a potential running mate for Mr Kerry.
The primaries and caucuses, which are being held over the next few months, determine how many delegates each candidate sends to the Democratic Party's convention in the summer.