Clinton in 'largely symbolic' win in West Virginia
 CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Hillary Rodham Clinton reached out for a largely symbolic victory in the West Virginia primary Tuesday over Barack Obama, front-runner in a historic Democratic presidential race nearing an end.
Shortly after polls closed at 7:30 PM Eastern, major media declared victory for Clinton. CNN described her win as "impressive" in its margin, but noted that the result would not put a significant dent in Obama's considerable delegate lead.
With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton was ahead 67%-26% with over 232,000 votes to Obama's 89,000.
Obama conceded defeat in advance in the state, looking ahead to the Oregon primary later in the month and the campaign against John McCain.
"This is our chance to build a new majority of Democrats and independents and Republicans who know that four more years of George Bush just won't do," he said at a campaign appearance in Missouri, which looms as a battleground state in the fall.
"This is our moment to turn the page on the divisions and distractions that pass for politics in Washington," added the man seeking to become the fist black presidential nominee of a major party.
Interviews with West Virginians leaving their polling places showed an overwhelmingly white electorate comprised of the kinds of voters who favored Clinton in past primaries. Nearly a quarter were 60 or older, and a similar number had no education beyond high school. More than half were in families with incomes of $50,000 or less.
Clinton's aides contended that her strength with blue collar voters — already demonstrated in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana — made her the more electable candidate in the fall.
Even before the polls closed, spokesman Mo Elleithee said the primary showed voters "don't want to be told that this thing is over. The people of West Virginia rejected the rush to call this thing over. They sent a very clear message tonight that Hillary Clinton is the best person to take on John McCain in the fall."
West Virginia had 28 delegates at stake, to be awarded proportionally according to the popular vote.
The delegate tally aside, the former first lady struggled to overcome an emerging Democratic consensus that Obama effectively wrapped up the nomination last week with a victory in the North Carolina primary and a narrow loss in Indiana.
He picked up four superdelegates during the day, including Roy Romer, former Democratic Party chairman.
"This race, I believe, is over," Romer told reporters on a conference call. He said only Clinton can decide when to withdraw, but he added: "There is a time we need to end it and direct ourselves to the general election. I think that time is now."
Clinton and Obama briefly shook hands on the Senate floor Tuesday after interrupting their campaigns for a few hours to vote on energy-related bills.
With wire services.
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