Obama hammers Clinton again in ninth straight nominating win

0 Comments | AFP, February, 2008

MADISON, Wisconsin (AFP) — Surging Barack Obama hammered White House foe Hillary Clinton in Wisconsin's primary Tuesday, racking up his ninth win in a row in the bitter Democratic White House race.

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain meanwhile fired a pre-emptive strike on his increasingly likely Democratic general election foe, ripping Obama's "eloquent but empty" rhetoric, after his own easy win in the midwestern state.

Obama's victory cemented his front-runner status, and left Clinton needing an astonishing turnaround in must-win contests in her firewall states of Ohio and Texas on March 4 to keep her fading presidential hopes alive.

"I think we've achieved liftoff here," said Obama, as he addressed a delirious rally in Houston, Texas, which hosts...