Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and gubernatorial candidate Eliot Spitzer cruised to landslide victories in New York state's Democratic primary day, turning back long-shot challengers on a night that produced a string of lopsided state-wide contests.
In the other big-ticket races, former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer soundly defeated a Pentagon official from the Reagan administration in the GOP Senate primary, and one-time federal Housing Secretary Andrew Cuomo easily won the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
Clinton crushed anti-war activist Jonathan Tasini, who had mounted a challenge over the first-term senator's 2002 vote authorising the US-led invasion of Iraq. The former first lady had 83 per cent of the vote with 99 per cent of precincts reporting, compared with Mr Tasini's 17 per cent.
Clinton was in Washington on primary night and had no victory celebration planned.
"I'm honoured and deeply gratified by this expression of support," Ms Clinton said in a statement.
"I've worked hard to deserve your confidence, and I will continue to work hard on behalf of the issues and values we share."
Ms Clinton will face Mr Spencer, the ultra-conservative former suburban mayor who led Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland by a count of 60 per cent to 40 per cent. Mr McFarland and Mr Spencer waged a bitter campaign that included sordid allegations about their personal lives.
In an interview, Mr Spencer said he looked forward to campaigning directly against Ms Clinton and said independents and moderate Democrats would be persuaded by his message.
"She's been weak on the war on terror, and bad for the economy of the state of New York," Spencer said. "She's a pro-tax, big government liberal, and I'm a commonsense conservative."
Mr Spitzer, the outgoing attorney general dubbed "the sheriff of Wall Street" for his highly public crusade against corporate excess, easily beat back a challenge from Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi. Mr Spitzer was leading 81-19 per cent.