Presidential hopefuls eye weekend contests

SEATTLE, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Republican and Democratic U.S. presidential hopefuls are setting their sights on five states conducting primaries and caucuses this weekend.

Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill., and Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., face off in five contests: Washington, Nebraska and Maine caucus; Louisiana conducts a primary and the Virgin Islands hold a territorial convention, the Los Angeles Times reported Friday. At stake are 185 delegates -- 2,025 are needed to win the Democratic presidential nomination.

Heading into the Washington caucus, Obama picked up the endorsement of Gov. Chris Gregoire, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer said.

Gregoire said Friday either Democratic candidate "would be a great candidate" but "we need a leader who will unite us. Barack Obama is that kind of leader."

The remaining Republican candidates -- Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee -- square off in Washington, Kansas and Louisiana. McCain is the expected presidential candidate, has 707 delegates to Huckabee's 195 and Paul's 14. The Republican nominee needs 1,191 delegates to be on the general election ballot.