Democrat Barack Obama's campaign chief predicted yesterday his long battle against Hillary Clinton for the party's presidential nomination would soon be over, saying "we're coming to the end of the process".
Interviewed on Fox New Sunday, David Axelrod said undecided super-delegates to the party convention who will decide the nomination were opting for Mr Obama, the Illinois senator who would be the first black US President if elected in November.
"You're going to see people (super-delegates) making decisions at a rapid pace from this point on," he said. "We've been announcing several each day for the last few days. We're going to continue to unfurl these endorsements on a regular basis."
Mrs Clinton's senior adviser Howard Wolfson, appearing on the same programme, rejected the idea that the campaign was over and predicted victory in the next state primary in West Virginia tomorrow.
"If Barack Obama wants Hillary Clinton out of this race, beat her. Beat her in West Virginia, beat her in Puerto Rico, beat her in Kentucky," he said, referring to three of the final six contests for the nomination, all of which favour Mrs Clinton. But he said if Mr Obama, 46, won the nomination, the New York senator would throw all her support and resources behind him against Republican nominee John McCain.
Even if she triumphs in the remaining contests, Mrs Clinton, 60, cannot overtake Mr Obama in pledged delegates for the August national convention in Denver. The delegates have been allocated proportionately in the state-by-state battles that began in January.
That leaves the decision on which Democrat will face Mr McCain in the November election in the hands of around 800 super-delegates - party leaders and activists who are free to choose whichever candidate they wish.
The latest delegate count from NBC news gives Mr Obama 1,859 delegates and Mrs Clinton 1,703, while 2,025 are needed to clinch the nomination.
Many Democrats are eager to get the nominating battle over so the party can unite and prepare to face Mr McCain, 71. Some worry the protracted battle is hurting their chances in November by highlighting both candidates' weak points and driving a wedge between their supporters.
Mr Obama has won most support from upscale voters, young voters and blacks. Mrs Clinton's support comes more from working class white voters and Hispanics.