Politics betting: Race for the White House

After clinching victory in the latest batch of primaries, Illinois senator Barack Obama appears to be stealing a march on his rivals for the White House and is now odds-on to become the next US President. Click here for a free £10 to bet on politics with Ladbrokes The Illinois senator is 10/11, from evens, with Ladbrokes to land the top job after extending his winning run to eight primaries with victories in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia and is now 1/3 to secure his party's nomination as he appears to have stolen a march on his party rival Hillary Clinton. The former President's wife is out to 7/2, from 10/3, for the White House and is 9/4 for the Democratic candidature. With eight consecutive primary wins behind him, Obama is beginning to look formidable and the manner of his victory on Tuesday looks ominous for Clinton: "Tonight we're on our way," Obama told supporters in Wisconsin, which will hold the next primary on 19 February. Each Democratic candidate is about halfway to winning the 2,025 delegates needed to secure victory at the party's national convention in August. With most of the Tuesday's votes counted, Obama has edged into the lead with 1,223 delegates to Clinton's 1,198 delegates. Ladbrokes spokesman, Nick Weinberg, said: "Clinton's banking on winning the bigger states to halt the Obama bandwagon. "But Giuliani demonstrated earlier in the Republican campaign just what a risky strategy that can be." John McCain is 1/33 to claim the Republican ticket, whilst Mike Huckabee is 2/1 favourite to run as the GOP's vice presidential nominee. McCain extended his significant lead in terms of the number of delegates who will vote for him at the party's national convention. But he still has work to do to unite his party, amid continuing criticisms from leading party members who have questioned his conservative credentials. LATEST BETTING Who will be elected president in 2008: Barack Obama 10/11; John McCain 6/4; Hillary Clinton 7/2 (20/1 bar) Click here for a free £10 to bet on politics with Ladbrokes