The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Washington

Democrats groped for ways to avert civil war at their presidential convention in August, as Barack Obama obliterated fundraising records in his corrosive fight against Hillary Clinton. The Republicans' new standard-bearer, Senator John McCain, capitalized on the Democratic infighting to portray himself as the only candidate with the mettle and experience to be commander-in-chief.

Obama, regrouping after his bruising defeats by Clinton in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday, admitted to "mistakes" over the long campaign, but said Democratic voters clearly did not want the race over yet.

"They want me to earn this thing and not feel as if I'm just sliding into it," he told ABC News late Thursday, while signaling a tougher riposte to a barrage of attacks from Clinton over his readiness to lead. "We're going to have to make sure that we're not just letting a bunch of charges go unanswered," he said.