Obama, Clinton vie for New York delegates

NEW YORK, Jan. 12 (UPI) -- U.S. political strategists say Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama poses a threat to rival Sen. Hillary Clinton in her home state of New York.

If Obama, D-Ill., wins the South Carolina primary in two weeks, he could attract enough support from blacks, liberals and young voters to threaten Clinton's claim to New York's 281 delegates, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The New York primary on Feb. 5 is shaping up as the state's most competitive since 1992, when Bill Clinton ran for president. Hillary Clinton, was re-elected to the U.S. Senate from New York a little more than a year ago by more than a two to one margin.

"The expectation is that Hillary should win in New York," said Assemblyman Adam Clayton Powell IV of Harlem, who supports Obama. "As you know, expectations don't always translate into votes, and so we're going to fight in New York."

A total of 22 states, including New Jersey, Illinois and Connecticut, hold presidential primaries Feb. 5.