The mini-Super Tuesday Democratic Party primaries and caucuses have cemented Senator John F. Kerry’s position as the frontrunner for his party’s presidential nomination.
Kerry won the contests in Missouri, Arizona, Delaware, New Mexico and North Dakota.
Senator John Edwards won in South Caroline, keeping his hopes alive, at least for a few days.
Retired General Wesley Clark had a narrow victory over Edwards and Kerry in Oklahoma, also delaying his departure from the race.
The former frontrunner and Governor of Vermont, Howard Dean, was defeated in all seven contests.
The 2000 vice-presidential nominee, Senator Joe Lieberman, was also defeated and announced his withdrawal from the race.
President Bill Clinton will address the convention on Monday night, as will his wife, Hillary, herself a candidate for a New York Senate seat. Clinton’s speech will be telecast immediately after the Titans-Rams football game and will be one of his last opportunities to promote his record in office. Clinton is expected to take credit for the state of the US economy – “My old daddy used to say: If you find a turtle on a fence post, chances are it didn’t get there by accident” – and lavish praise on Gore.