PTI
 
Washington, May 14: Hillary Clinton cruised to an emphatic victory over rival Barack Obama in West Virginia primary on Wednesday, handing the Democrat front-runner one of the worst defeats of his campaign but effectively doing little to dent his prospects in the race for White House.

With votes from 76 per cent of the largely working-class state's precincts counted, Clinton was winning 66 per cent to 27 percent for Obama, US media reported. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards, who has already quit the contest, was picking up the remaining seven per cent.

However, West Virginia was expected to go the Clinton way with Obama conceding defeat in advance and the huge win, though morale-boosting for the former first lady, is not expected to reverse the African-American Senator's insurmountable lead in the delegate tally.

Clinton won at least 16 of the 28 delegates at stake in West Virginia, with Obama securing seven and five more still to be allocated. The present delegate tally stands at 1,882.5 for Obama to 1,713 for Clinton.

Obama leads his rival 31-18 in primaries and caucuses won and 27-17 in states clinched.

According to analysts, even if Obama loses most of the remaining contests in four states and Puerto Rico, it is unlikely to shake his stanglehold on the Democrat contest.

But a never-say-die Clinton in her victory speech reminded her supporters and the party leadership that she is not giving up the challenge and the race is anything but over.