Charleston:  Democrat Barack Obama looked headed for a crushing defeat to Hillary Clinton in today's West Virginia primary but was already cranking up a general-election battle against Republican John McCain.

The former first lady was on course for a thumping win in one of the poorest US states, according to the latest polls, but that was unlikely to break Obama's stranglehold on the Democrats White House nomination.

The two senators had a close encounter as they made a rare appearance in Congress for a series of votes.

As she walked into the Capitol building, Clinton was asked how she felt about West Virginia and replied "excellent."

At one point, the Illinois senator approached Clinton and patted her on the shoulder and the arm, and she smiled broadly, as they exchanged a few words before he left the Senate chamber.

As West Virginians voted, Obama received further support from a more significant Democratic electorate the nearly 800 "superdelegates" who could well have the casting ballot in the epic nominating contest.

Four more superdelegates rallied to the Illinois senator s flag today including Roy Romer, a former governor of Colorado and ex-chairman of the Democratic National Committee.

Romer, who was a national co-chairman of president Bill Clinton s re-election campaign in 1996,said "Senator Clinton has been a very strong and formidable candidate."

"But there is a time that we need to end it and direct ourselves to the general election. I think that time is now," he said on a media conference call.

Source : PTI