Washington: In an embarrassing defeat for Republican Presidential front-runner John McCain, rival Mike Huckabee trounced the Arizona senator in the Kansas Caucuses. The former Arkansas Governor added 36 delegates to his total of 234 by winning 60 per cent of the votes in Kansas as opposed to a mere 24 per cent for Senator McCain.

With former Massachussetts Governor Mitt Romney pulling out of the race, McCain is virtually guaranteed the party's nomination for the November Presidential election. The polls are still open in the states of Louisiana, Nebraska and Washington with a total of 158 delegates at stake for the Democrats.

As results are being awaited on the Democratic side, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton has so far bagged a total of 1,055 delegates as opposed to Obama's 998. A total of 2,025 is required to win the democratic nomination. As of Saturday, 29 out of the 50 state would have selected delegates to the Democratic National Convention; and Maine goes to its event on Sunday with 24 delegates.

All eyes are on the "Beltway Primaries", where Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC will have their political event next Tuesday where 175 delegates are at stake.

Source : PTI