UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.06.08

McCain leads GOP race after Super Tuesday.

Arizona Senator John McCain has cemented his status as the front-runner for the GOP nomination following yesterday's Super Tuesday nominating contest. McCain won nine states yesterday, including California, New York and Missouri. That gave him more than a 300-delegate lead over his closest rival, Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor won seven states in the contest, followed by former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee. He won five states, including the West Virginia party convention.

Yesterday's results show Democrats are evenly split between New York Senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois Senator Barack Obama. Clinton grabbed about 41 percent of the delegates needed for the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama received 36 percent. The New York Senator took the majority of delegates in large states like California, New York and New Jersey. But Obama won more states overall, taking 13 over Clinton's 8.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is expected to meet with his top aides today to discuss the future of his campaign. That's after a disappointing Super Tuesday finish. They'll reportedly discuss whether to launch an advertising campaign in the upcoming primary states. Romney vowed late yesterday to press on, but his top advisers acknowledged skepticism. The former governor has spent more than $35 million of his personal fortune on his campaign.

At least 48 people are dead following a wrath of deadly tornadoes that tore through the South last night. The storms ripped through Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky, destroying homes and shopping mall. They also trapped students in a university dorm. Emergency crews are combing through areas today, searching for more victims who may have been overlooked.

UPI VIDEO NEWS 02.05.08

Voters go to the polls for Super Tuesday.

Voters from coast to coast are heading to the polls on this Super Tuesday... a pivotal day for the Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls. Twenty-four states are voting in what is nearly a national polling day. Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are in a virtual dead heat nationally for the Democratic presidential nomination.

On the Republican side, Arizona senator John McCain is heading into today as the front-runner. But former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney is stepping up his attacks on McCain, declaring he's the true conservative. Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who's still in the race, is aiming for a strong showing in the South.

Meanwhile, John McCain has won a key endorsement from former New York Governor George Pataki. That backing, coupled with the support of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, could play an important role in today's vote.

Former New York Yankees Pitcher Roger Clemens is on Capitol Hill today to testify about whether he used performance-enhancing drugs. His appearance comes one day after his Yankees teammate and workout partner, Andy Pettitte, gave a deposition there yesterday. Both players are part of a hearing next week that will reportedly focus on allegations made by the Mitchell Report that Clemens was injected more than a dozen times with human growth hormone and steroids. The 45-year-old pitcher has denied ever taking any drugs.