HAGATNA: Democrat Barack Obama beat rival Hillary Clinton by just seven votes in Guam s nominating contest after record numbers of residents voted in the tiny U.S. territory s primary, officials said on Sunday.
Results after more than 12 hours of manual counting showed Obama took 2,264 votes to 2,257 for Clinton. In the last Democratic primary in 2004 only 1,500 people took part.
"Clearly, both of them are quite popular and we should celebrate that," Josh Tenorio, Obama s campaign manager on the territory told Reuters. "It s a good day for Guam."
With only four votes at the Democratic convention at stake, the contest on Guam, a Pacific island more than 20 hours by plane from Washington, will barely register in the protracted duel for the party s presidential ticket.
Neither candidate made it to Guam -- instead both called into radio stations to campaign -- and many Americans have never even heard of it, but some islanders were thrilled to finally be in the spotlight.
"A lot of people were confused by the process," said Robert Lizama, a local mayor. "It s brought a lot of awareness and participation. I think that s important."
"We can t vote for president, but this is our part of the process."
Residents cannot vote in the presidential election but Guam, which is less than a fifth of the size of the smallest U.S. state of Rhode Island, sends eight delegates with half a vote each to the Democratic convention in August.
Also on the ballot was the race for chairman and vice chairman of Guam s Democratic Party.
"I want change. He might change some things, like health insurance. It s expensive," said Ricky Castillo, 69, who voted for Obama.
Clinton reminded voters about her multiple visits during stopovers on presidential trips with her husband to Asia and Obama emphasised his Pacific connections through his upbringing in Hawaii and Indonesia.
Copyright 2008, by
Times Of Oman
. All rights reserved
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