As polls closed in the Democratic presidential primary in North Caorlina Tuesday, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois was projected by U.S. media as the winner.

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) has his cheek touched by 7-month-old Aedyn Buchanan as he visits diners at Stephanie's II homestyle restaurant in Greensboro, North Carolina, May 5, 2008.

All major U.S. TV news networks did not hesitate and made their projections only moments after the 2330 GMT close of voting in North Carolina.

The networks are basing the projections almost entirely on surveys done of voters as they exited polling places.

Actual votes cast in the state haven't yet been counted.

The battle between Obama and rival Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York in Indiana, where voting ended at 2300 GMT, is still "too early" to call according to the news networks.

Early results showed Clinton ahead of Obama in Indiana.

With 23 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton led Obama 57-43percent.

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks during a campaign stop at the Merrillville Fire Department Station #2 in Merrillville, Indiana, May 5, 2008.

(Xinhua News Agency May 7, 2008)