Clinton notches Rhode Island primary win

PROVIDENCE, R.I., March 5 (UPI) -- Record voter turnout helped U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., chalk up a win in Rhode Island and boost her Democratic presidential bid.

Tuesday's primary was one for the books in Rhode Island, where more than 175,000 people cast Democratic primary ballots, besting the 167,000 votes in the 1990 gubernatorial primary, The Providence (R.I.) Journal reported Wednesday.

"When I visited Rhode Island, I said that this little state would have a big voice in this election," Clinton said in a statement last night. "I am so proud and honored to have such broad and decisive support from the great state of Rhode Island."

Clinton claimed about 60 percent of the Rhode Island vote in the Democratic primary while U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., took about 40 percent.

Clinton won three of four primaries Tuesday -- Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas. Obama won in Vermont.

"Because tonight is so much about delegates we'll be looking at the delegate count," Obama spokesman Caleb Weaver said. "That is why we were fighting here in Rhode Island, even though this is Clinton country."

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., took about 65 percent of the vote in the Republican primary. That, and wins elsewhere Tuesday, helped him sew up the Republican Party nomination for president.

The next races are caucuses Saturday in Wyoming and a primary election Tuesday in Mississippi.