Obama wins Louisiana Democratic presidential vote

NEW ORLEANS, Feb 9 (Reuters) - Illinois Sen. Barack Obama won the Louisiana Democratic primary on Saturday, lifting his campaign for the party's presidential nomination by extending his string of victories in Southern states with large black populations, U.S. media projected.

In addition to Louisiana, Obama has solidly defeated rival Hillary Clinton in Democratic nominating contests in South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, where blacks make up about 30 percent of the population.

Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president, has won more states overall than the former first lady in their closely fought contest, especially in the Midwest and West, but Clinton has won more big states like California and New York. (editing by Jackie Frank)