Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008  

    WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Republican presidential candidate John McCain was projected to win the party's presidential nomination as he was expected to sweep four states holding primaries and caucuses Tuesday.

    The following are key dates in his bid for the presidential candidacy:

    -- Sept. 27, 1999: McCain officially launched his first bid for the White House as he would run for president.

    -- March 9, 2000: McCain conceded to George W. Bush after a defeat in South Carolina.

    -- April 25, 2007: McCain formally launched the second presidential campaign amid the poor fundraising and poll results.

    -- July 2, 2007: McCain, who had a fund of only 2 million U.S. dollars on hand, dismissed speculation on his dropout of the race and streamlined his campaign team.

    -- July 10, 2007: McCain's campaign suffered a big blow as four of his senior advisers resigned.

    -- Oct. 4, 2007: McCain's campaign was pulled back to the track with 6 million dollars raised in three months and 3.6 million dollars in cash on hand.

    -- Jan. 8, 2008: McCain won New Hampshire primary, his first victory in the presidential nomination race.

    -- Jan. 19, 2008: McCain won South Carolina.

    -- Jan. 29, 2008: McCain won Florida primary.

    -- Jan. 30, 2008: Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who has been leading the national poll before the Republican presidential race kicked off, announced to quit the contest and endorse McCain.

    -- Feb. 5, 2008: McCain won nine states on "Super Tuesday" when a total of 21 states held Republican presidential primaries and caucuses, and solidified his lead in the race.

    -- Feb. 7, 2008: McCain's campaign was boosted by the endorsement of another leading rival, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney.

    -- Feb. 12, 2008: McCain won District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.

    -- Feb. 19, 2008: McCain won Wisconsin.

    -- Feb. 20, 2008: McCain denied a news report indicating his "inappropriate relations" with a female lobbyist, vowing not to "allow a smear campaign" to distract from his campaign.

    -- March 4, 2008: McCain was expected to seal his campaign for the presidential nomination with four more victories on March 4 in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont, increasing the number of his delegates to be above 1,191 needed for the nomination.

    The only remaining rival, former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, announced to quit the race.

Obama, McCain win Vermont primaries

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and his wife Michelle board his campaign plane in Houston, Texas March 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and Republican contender John McCain were projected by CNN to win Vermont primaries on Tuesday.

    The U.S. presidential nominee race was resumed as Vermont and the other three states -- Ohio, Texas and Rhode Island -- held primaries and caucuses. Full story

March 4 races to be Clinton's last stronghold?

    WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign hinges on the voters who are heading to the polling stations in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont on Tuesday.

    For Republican forerunner John McCain, the March 4 is not a "must-win" but possibly a "final win." With 1,047 delegates at hand, the Arizona Senator sees his time coming to win the party's presidential nominee who needs 1,191 or more delegates of the total 2,380.  Full story

Make or break moment comes for Clinton in Ohio, Texas

    BEIJING, March 4 (Xinhuanet) -- It seems to be a make or break moment for U.S. Demoncratic presential hopeful Hillary Clinton, since she needs to win both states of Ohio and Texas in Tuesday's primaries to continue her White House road, a view shared by many analysts.  Full story

McCain projected to win Republican presidential nomination

    WASHINGTON, March 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain was projected by CNN on Tuesday to win the party's presidential nomination.

    The Arizona Senator has been projected to win Vermont and Ohio, and is expected to take another two primaries on Tuesday in Texas and Rhode Island. Full story