Barack Obama, closer to clinching the Democratic Party's nomination to run for US president, turned his focus today to Republican John McCain and the general election battleground of Florida.
A Reuters/Zogby poll showed Mr Obama opening an eight-point national lead on Mr McCain as the two geared up for their likely battle for the White House in November's election.
But Mr Obama's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, her longshot campaign at least $20 million in debt, refused to step aside and also planned a day of campaigning in Florida.
Mr Obama handily won Oregon and Mrs Clinton easily won Kentucky yesterday in a split decision that gave Mr Obama a majority of pledged delegates from their lengthy state-by-state nomination fight - a milestone he hoped marked a turning point.
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| Barack Obama addresses supporters in Des Moines, Iowa, last night |
"We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, and you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States," Mr Obama told a rally in Iowa, site of his breakthrough victory in the first Democratic contest on January 3rd.
The Reuters/Zogby poll showed Americans growing more anxious about their economic prospects and the country's direction. The number of people who believe the country is on the right track fell from 23 percent to an abysmal 16 per cent.
Mr Obama (46), sounded the theme of change that initially propelled him to the front of the Democratic race. He described the battle with Mr McCain (71), as "more of the same versus change. It is the past versus the future."
But Mrs Clinton refused to surrender and clear the way for her rival to focus on Mr McCain. "I'm going to keep making our case until we have a nominee - whoever she may be," Mrs Clinton said, promising supporters in Kentucky that she would keep fighting until the Democratic voting ends on June 3rd.
Mr Obama is now about 65 delegates short of the 2,026 needed to win the nomination at the Democratic Party convention in August.
A delegate count by MSNBC gives him 1,960 delegates to Clinton's 1,783. He had 1,655 pledged delegates, with 1,627 representing a majority.