Clinton keeps bid alive with Ohio win: media

A girl helps hold a sign as supporters cheer early returns at US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton's (D-NY) Ohio and Texas primary election night rally in Columbus, Ohio March 4, 2008.

CINCINNATI (Reuters) - Sen. Hillary Clinton kept her White House hopes alive on Tuesday with a victory in the Ohio contest to pick a Democratic presidential candidate, defeating rival Barack Obama in a state analysts said she had to win to remain a viable candidate, U.S. media projected.

The Ohio win broke Obama's month-long string of victories in the state contests to pick a Democratic candidate for the November U.S. election.

The Illinois senator's streak left Clinton trailing in the number of delegates to the summer convention that will pick the presidential candidate, and analysts said the New York senator and former first lady had to win on Tuesday to have a chance of catching him.