Rampant Kerry focuses on Super Seven battle

US SENATOR John Kerry yesterday turned his attention to the 'Super Seven' battle as his runaway New Hampshire victory made him the man to beat in the Democratic presidential race.

Mr Kerry easily won New Hampshire on Tuesday with 39% of the state's primary vote, dealing a new blow to early front-runner Howard Dean, the former governor of Vermont, who came second on 26%.

Kerry got another huge boost with the news that South Carolina Representative Jim Clyburn and Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack intend to endorse him. The backing of Democratic congressman Mr Clyburn, the dominant black politician in his state, is critical in South Carolina where almost half the voters in the February 3 primary are expected to be minorities. .

After his victory a week earlier in Iowa, Mr Kerry is now firm favourite to be the Democratic candidate against Republican president George W Bush in the November 2 election. But rivals warned they would do everything to stop Mr Kerry in the 'Super Seven' contest in seven states next Tuesday.

The seven states have more than 21 million people and 269 delegates to the Democratic convention at stake. The Missouri and South Carolina primaries are the richest prizes in a line-up next that includes primaries in Arizona, Delaware and Oklahoma, and caucuses in New Mexico and North Dakota.

Mr Kerry faces a particularly stern test in South Carolina, Missouri and Arizona.

But he told CBS television: "I fully intend to campaign across the South. I intend to compete everywhere."

The 60-year-old Mr Kerry has stepped up attacks on Mr Bush, and the "influence peddlers, the polluters ... the big oil and the special interests" that he said dominate the Republican White House. The Massachusetts senator roused supporters at his New Hampshire victory party on Tuesday night, warning: "We're coming, you're going, and don't let the door hit you on the way out."

Mr Dean said his second place in New Hampshire showed that his campaign was back on track after his shock third place in Iowa.

"We've got some momentum back in the campaign and it's going to take time to get back what we had as the front-runner status, but we're determined to do it," he said. .

The New Hampshire primary was a blow to the hopes of Senator John Edwards and retired general Wesley Clark. Both got 12% but Mr Clark narrowly took third place with a slightly higher number of votes.

Mr Edwards is now counting on victory in South Carolina next week to relaunch his campaign. "I'm going to win South Carolina," he said. He was born in South Carolina but represents North Carolina in the Senate.

Terry McAuliffe, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, said any candidate who has failed to win a state by the end of 'Super Seven' day should consider withdrawing. "If you haven't won any of the first nine contests, which represents all the party, all regions of the country, then I think you got to look at your candidacy," he said.

Mr McAuliffe warned that the Democratic candidate will be "going against an incumbent president who has unlimited amounts of money".

Mr Bush has a campaign war chest of over €100m, but is facing mounting pressure over the Iraq war and his handling of the economy.