LEXINGTON, Kentucky (AP):

Barack Obama was poised to reach a major milestone yesterday in the Kentucky and Oregon primaries, a majority of the elected delegates offered in the Democratic presidential contest, even as Hillary Rodham Clinton, soldiered on despite her dwindling hopes.

Clinton was vowing to continue the fight through the last primaries in early June as polls opened across Kentucky, a state she was expected to win by a wide margin. Obama was favoured in Oregon, where supporters delivered the largest crowd of his campaign on Sunday in Portland.

Regardless of who prevails in those states, Obama was assured he would be able to claim the largest share of elected delegates, who could be won in the long slog of votes since January.

The Illinois senator's campaign is touting the milestone as a big step toward ending the epic nomination battle with Clinton.