Democratic fight heads to Pacific with Guam count

HAGATNA, Guam (Reuters) - Counting in Guam's Democratic primary stretched into Sunday after residents of the tiny U.S. territory turned out in record numbers to choose between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.

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

The final result is not expected until around 3 a.m. (1 p.m. EDT).

With only four electoral votes at the Democratic convention at stake, the contest on Guam, a Pacific island more than 20 hours by plane from Washington, will barely register in the protracted duel for the party's presidential ticket.

Democratic officials estimate well over 5,000 people voted in Saturday's election. During the last primary in 2004 only 1,500 people took part.

Counting at Guam's legislature was being done by hand and, so far, more than 300 ballots have been tallied with more than 200 for Obama.

"I'm dead tired but my mind is awake," said Derrick Muna Quinata, a car salesman who was waiting for counting to finish. The 28-year-old said he had voted for Obama.

Guam's residents cannot vote in the presidential election but the territory, which is less than a fifth of the size of the smallest U.S. state of Rhode Island, sends eight delegates with half a vote each to the Democratic convention in August.

Neither candidate got to Guam, a U.S. territory since 1898, but both called into radio stations to emphasize their affinity with an island many Americans have never heard of.

Clinton reminded voters about her multiple visits during stopovers on presidential trips with her husband, Bill, to Asia and Obama emphasized his Pacific connections through his upbringing in Hawaii and Indonesia.

Some islanders, thrilled finally to be in the spotlight, hastily joined the party just so they could take part in the process, leading to the moniker "Democrat for a Day".

"A lot of people were confused by the process," said Robert Lizama, a local mayor. "It's brought a lot of awareness and participation. I think that's important.

"We can't vote for president, but this is our part of the process."

The next major contests for the Democratic nomination are on May 6 in North Carolina and Indiana. The two states have a combined 187 delegates at stake.

While Obama leads in nominating delegates, Clinton has moved into a virtual tie with her rival in national polls after winning in Pennsylvania last month.

Neither Obama nor Clinton is likely to reach the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination without help from 796 "superdelegates" -- party officials and insiders free to back any candidate.

Guam, which goes by the slogan, "Where America's Day Begins", will also send five superdelegates to the Democratic convention.

(Editing by Carmel Crimmins and Robert Woodward)