Obama Wins North Carolina, Clinton Scrapes By in Indiana

Barack Obama's quest to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination got a lift with a big win in North Carolina and a strong run in Indiana, where he did significantly better than expected against the favored Hillary Clinton.

Sen. Clinton only narrowly won in Indiana, after her early lead was nearly erased by late, pro-Obama returns from predominantly African-American Gary and surrounding areas over the Illinois line from his Chicago base. The close call, combined with Sen. Obama's double-digit margin in North Carolina, reassured Obama supporters and, more important, uncommitted party leaders that he appears to have weathered weeks of controversies.