Kerry ready to take on Bush

John Kerry has all but officially sealed the Democratic presidential nomination after capturing Texas and Florida with ease.

With his nearest rival, John Edwards, out of the race, Senator Kerry stormed to victory in four southern primaries held in states that President Bush must win to stay in the White House this November.

He took more than threequarters of the vote in Florida last night, which was narrowly won by George Bush with a margin of 537 votes at the last election after weeks of bitter legal wrangling amid allegations of electoral fraud.

There were similar margins in the Louisana and Mississippi primaries, as well as Texas, Mr Bush's home state. Mr Kerry is now only a handful of delegates away from the majority he will need to seal the nomination at the Democratic Party Convention in July.

Although Mr Edwards pulled out of the race this month, he stayed on the ballot-but barely captured more than 15 per cent of the vote.

Mr Kerry attacked the president's handling of the US economy, saying he had lost jobs while slashing taxes for the rich.

He said: "It must be getting lonely for George Bush. He's the last person left in America who actually believes his failed policies will ever work."

Attention will now turn to Mr Kerry's choice for his running mate as vice president, with many Democrats urging him to pick Mr Edwards, a popular southerner, to form a "dream ticket" to beat the Republicans.

Latest opinion polls are divided, with one giving Mr Kerry an eight per cent lead at the weekend. Another poll, for Associated Press yesterday, showed both candidates in a dead heat. But the same polls show that most Americans still believe Mr Bush will win the election.