Obama wins Wyoming caucuses

CHEYENNE, Wyo., March 8 (UPI) -- Presidential hopeful Barack Obama won the Wyoming Democratic caucuses Saturday, beating rival Hillary Clinton.

Although there were just 18 delegates up for grabs in the state, Obama's win in Wyoming inches him closer to the 2,025 needed to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, The New York Times reported.

With 96 percent of precincts reporting, Obama led Clinton 59 percent to 40 percent, CNN reported.

Election officials in the Equality State predicted a record turnout at caucus sites.

"Wyoming, this is our 15 minutes," said former Secretary of State Kathy Karpan, who supported Clinton, Saturday morning.

The tight race has thrust Wyoming Democrats into the national spotlight, attention they had not enjoyed since the state's delegates gave John F. Kennedy the delegates he needed for the 1960 Democratic nomination.

The race for the Democratic Party nomination continues Tuesday in Mississippi, which has 33 delegates at stake. Pennsylvania, which has 158 convention delegates at stake, holds its primary April 22.