Obama in striking distance of nomination as Clinton loans herself money to keep up campaign

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The two Democrats' prolonged contest appeared to be nearing its climax, with Obama, a 46-year-old first-term senator, now less than 200 delegates short of clinching the nomination after winning North Carolina on Tuesday night and confounding Clinton's efforts to carry Indiana by a wide margin.

The split decision cost her the last, best chance she had of of winning the nomination, but Clinton jumped back into the race Wednesday, with her sights set on West Virginia next week, followed by Kentucky and Oregon.

Clinton backers appeared on early morning television programs to stress that she was still in the race and to urge superdelegates not to flee to Obama. She also issued a plea to supporters for more funds _ a call that was followed Wednesday morning by an announcement that she had again loaned herself money, this time $6.4 million (euro4.12 million) in the past month.

``This candidacy and this campaign continues on,'' Clinton communications director Howard Wolfson said Wednesday on CNN.

Her lackluster showing Tuesday could further damage her chances of raising more money, and the loan further reflected the financial problems she is facing in contrast to Obama and his fundraising prowess. Clinton had loaned herself $5 million in January.

An invigorated Obama took the day off after declaring Tuesday strong showing afforded him a ``clear path to the White House.'' His campaign dropped broad hints it was time for the 270 remaining unaligned superdelegates _ party officials who are free to vote as they chose _ to take sides and settle the race.

``Tonight we stand less than 200 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for president of the United States,'' Obama told a raucous rally in Raleigh, North Carolina.

It was among the superdelegates _ even more than in the six remaining primaries _ that the Democratic drama was bound to play out. The outcome of Tuesday's votes could compel still-undecided superdelegates to make their choices soon because the protracted battle has increasingly polarized Democratic voters and raised worries of disunity ahead of November's general election against presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.

The former first lady showed no public signs of easing her pace. Her campaign added a Wednesday appearance in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, to her schedule. On Thursday, she planned to campaign in West Virginia, South Dakota and Oregon.

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