The front-runner for the US Democratic Party's presidential nomination, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, has won Tuesday's Democratic primary election in Wisconsin in a relative close race.
North Carolina Senator John Edwards came in second, with a stronger showing than some analysts had expected.
With more than 70 percent of the vote counted, Mr. Kerry was leading Mr. Edwards by a margin of 39 percent to 35 percent.
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, who has not won a single primary or caucasus this year, is a distant third.
Senator Kerry has now won 15 of the 17 state Democratic contests.
The Democratic candidates are vying for their party's nomination to challenge President Bush in the November general election. Mr. Kerry has won most of the state delegates allocated so far.