Wyoming votes today - and Obama wins, well, just about anyway

Obama led rival Sen. Hillary Clinton at 59 percent to 40 percent, with 96 percent of precincts reporting.

The caucus thrust the state, which has only 12 delegates, into the spotlight because the close race between Obama and Clinton means that every delegate counts.

Although Wyoming typically is not a stop for Democrats looking for delegates to clinch the party's presidential nomination, its numbers could make a difference this year because of the delegate deadlock.

With slightly more than 600 delegates left at stake, every remaining contest is crucial to both candidates. The two are separated by fewer than 100 delegates

Large crowds have been turning out at the caucuses being held in 23 electoral districts, reports say.

Senator Barack Obama is trying to retake the momentum he lost to Hillary Clinton in last Tuesday's vote. Mr Obama still leads the delegate count.

For the Republicans, John McCain has secured the party's nomination.

In Cheyenne, a line of hundreds stretched around the block at the venue for the caucus.

"Why I'm here today is that in Wyoming, this is probably the only vote that counts, because this state is going Republican in the general election," Matt Sachse, a 42-year-old state employee, told the Associated Press.

And in Casper, a city of 50,000, the caucus was expected to begin behind schedule because of the overwhelming crowds.

Cheryl Flores, an Obama supporter, said it was exciting that Wyoming, often ignored by White House candidates, was getting a role this year.

"We have 12 delegates and I think we can contribute to this campaign," she told the AFP news agency.

Mr Obama heads into the caucuses amid controversy caused by one of his aides who called Mrs Clinton "a monster".

Samantha Power - a Harvard professor who has advised Mr Obama on foreign policy - resigned on Friday.

She had told the Scotsman newspaper: "She [Hillary Clinton] is a monster, too - that is off the record - she is stooping to anything."

Ms Power has since apologised.

Iraq exit strategy

After Wyoming, the candidates head for Mississippi, which is holding primaries on Tuesday.

Obama needs to retake the momentum

Mr Obama told supporters in Wyoming on Friday that he would end the war in Iraq in 2009 - another issue causing a stir in his camp after another remark by his former foreign policy adviser.