John McCain strode closer to the top of the Republican ticket last night, winning the key state of California on Super Tuesday.
Mr McCain's main rival, Mitt Romney, failed to halt his charge as Mike Huckabee picked up the slack with surprise wins in the conservative deep south.
John McCain also captured the big states in the north-east, except for Massachusetts, the home state of Mitt Romney.
The biggest surprise of the night was Mike Huckabee. The former Governor of Arkansas not only captured his home state but four other states in the south, ensuring he will remain an important factor in the Republican race.
Mr Huckabee's win in the key battleground of Georgia saw him narrowly snatch victory from former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney. He also added Tennessee, Alabama, and West Virginia as feathers to his cap.
Projections based on exit polls show Mr McCain won California as well as New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Oklahoma, Missouri, Arizona and Illinois, home to Chicago, the country's third biggest city.
A total of 1,191 delegates are needed to win the Republican nomination. So far it is estimated that Mr McCain has a total of 530 delegates while Mr Romney is estimated to have 219 delegates and Mr Huckabee 151 delegates.
Speaking to supporters in Arkansas, Mr Huckabee said 'Over the past few days, a lot of people have been trying to say that this is a two-man race. Well, you know what, it is - and we're in it.'
Mr Romney won both of his home states, Massachusetts and Utah, as well as North Dakota, Minnesota, Colorado and Montana.
At the Romney campaign headquarters in Boston, the former Massachusetts governor told his supporters that the 'one thing that's clear is this campaign's going on.'
Mr McCain won New York state's presidential primary, taking the lion's share of the 101 delegates at stake in a huge boost to his campaign.
Mr Huckabee's West Virginia victory came after John McCain supporters switched sides in a second round of voting in order to avoid handing Mitt Romney the state's 18 delegates.
A total of 24 states voted in the Super Tuesday Republican and Democratic presidential candidates.
Delegate Count
John McCain: 559
Mitt Romney: 265
Mike Huckabee: 169
(Number of delegates needed to win: 1,191)
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