McCain pushes for GOP command on Super Tuesday; Clinton, Obama battle for Democrats

WASHINGTON -- Sen. John McCain swept a string of delegate-rich, East Coast primaries Tuesday night, reaching for command of the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Democrats Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama traded victories in an epic struggle from Connecticut to California.

The former first lady said, "I look forward to continuing our campaign and our debate about how to leave this country better off for the next generation."

McCain, the early Republican front-runner whose campaign nearly unraveled six months ago, won in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Delaware to gain all 198 delegates at stake there. He also put Illinois and Oklahoma in his column.