Washington: Hillary Clinton is still hopeful of winning Democratic presidential nomination with expected victories in West Virginia on Tuesday and Kentucky next week.

However, even the big wins are unlikely to upset Obama's applecart given his significant lead in total delegates.

With only 28 pledged delegates at stake in West Virginia Tuesday and another 51 up for grabs in Kentucky May 20, she would find it virtually impossible to catch up with Obama in pledged delegates as Democrats split the delegates in proportion to their votes.

The Illinois senator, who would be America's first black president, has not only won more states, has more popular vote but is also winning the support of super delegates, key party officials holding the balance of power in the nomination process, since his sweeping victory in North Carolina and narrow loss in Indiana on last Tuesday.

Obama now has the backing of 1,869 delegates, including 277 super delegates as against Clinton's 1,697 with 273 super delegates. The backing of super delegates, who are not bound by primary results, is considered crucial as neither candidate is likely to reach the magic winning number of 2,025 by the end of primary season June 3.

As Clinton doggedly continued her campaign amid ever growing calls to quit the White House race, a new poll released on Monday had Clinton drawing 60 per cent of likely Democratic voters in West Virginia compared to Obama's 24 per cent, giving the former first lady a 34 point lead.

In Kentucky, which votes on May 20, a Research 2000 poll shows Clinton winning 58 per cent of the vote to Obama's 31 per cent, giving her a 27 point lead.

Despite Clinton's strength in the state, the poll suggests McCain would easily defeat both Democrats in November as the Vietnam War veteran holds a 25 point advantage over Obama and a 12 point lead over Clinton.

Kentucky is considered a solidly Republican state, though former president Bill Clinton carried it twice.

Source : IANS