Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama and his wife Michelle (L) step off their chartered plane with their daughters Malia (R) and Sasha (2nd L) at Indianapolis International Airport May 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama beat his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in Guam caucuses only by seven votes on Saturday.

    The final result showed that Illinois Senator Obama led with 50.1 percent to 49.9 percent for New York Senator Clinton.

    The final narrow win came out much later than the originally expected time around 3 a.m. local time (1700 GMT) due to the recorded turnout of voters.

    "It's a huge turnout compared to previous elections," said Herbie Perez, chairman of the Democratic party's nominating committee.

    Democratic party officials estimated that more than 5,000 people had took part in Saturday's election compared to only 1,500 in the presidential nomination race in 2004.

    The residents in the U.S. territory with a population of nearly 175,000 are not allowed to vote for president in November, but the voters are electing eight delegates on Saturday, who will each have a half vote at the Democratic presidential nomination convention in Denver in August.

    Among Guam's five super delegates, two have already pledged their votes, each to Clinton and Obama, and the rest three remain undecided.

    Neither of the two Democratic hopefuls campaigned in person in the Pacific island, but they have appeared in radio and TV ads, as well as long-distance interviews, making promises in voting rights for president, affordable medical care and economic opportunities.

    Obama, in particular, wooed voters with his background of growing up in Hawaii to show his sensitiveness to the needs of islanders.

    The Saturday's win was considered a boost for Obama, who are facing a key test on May 6 in the Indiana and North Carolina primaries with a combined 187 delegates at stake.