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Clinton, McCain lead primaries

As of 1:30 this morning, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had come out slightly ahead of opponent Barack Obama, while John McCain maintained an increasing lead throughout the night over fellow Republican contenders Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul in Super Tuesday's primary elections.

Clinton took the majority of Democratic votes in Arkansas, New York and New Jersey. She also won Massachusetts with a 17 percent lead, despite Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy's recent endorsement of Obama. A majority of voters in Oklahoma, Tennessee, California and Arizona also chose Clinton as their Democratic candidate, according to ABC News.

"I think [Clinton] is pulling ahead a little bit," said Sophia Brumby, fourth-year College student and coordinator of Hoos for Hillary. "What we're seeing is a lot of excitement and enthusiasm ... Hillary is getting a lot of momentum and performing well in the states that she needed to."

Obama, on the other hand, won his home state of Illinois, as well as Georgia, Delaware, Alabama, North Dakota, Kansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Utah, Colorado, Missouri, Alaska and Connecticut.

"So far [Clinton and Obama have] been trading wins," said Hoos for Obama member Carolina Ferrerosa, a third-year College student. Obama "has states across the country that are now supporting him, [and] he is demonstrating that he can win in all areas of the country."

Though Clinton seems to have won more Democratic delegates in yesterday's primaries, there is still no frontrunner for the Democratic Party.

"I don't think either Obama or Hillary will consider dropping out after tonight," Brumby said.

The remaining primaries, including Virginia's, may establish a clear frontrunner for the Democrats.

"The chances are that [after Super Tuesday] there won't be a clear winner of the Democratic Party," Ferrerosa said. "It's going to come down to Virginia and the rest of the other states."

In the Republican primaries, McCain received the highest vote totals in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, New York and Oklahoma, according to ABC News.

Student advocates for McCain were not completely satisfied with McCain's results as of 10 p.m. last night, however, as Huckabee and Romney achieved a number of victories.

"I am a little upset that McCain hasn't done as well," said John Sweeney, third-year Commerce student and member of Hoos for McCain. "It does appear that the Republican Party is divided at this moment."

Mitt Romney took the lead in Colorado, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota and Utah, according to ABC News.

"We're disappointed, and we didn't do as well tonight as we would hope," said Savanna Rutherford, third-year College student and co-chair of Hoos for Mitt. "There are still a lot of delegates out there, and there are still a lot of races, and we are still looking forward to some of the big races like Virginia."

Huckabee won Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Tennessee and West Virginia.

Virginia voters will head to the polls this coming Tuesday to make their voices heard in both parties' ongoing contests.

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