Las Vegas- With over 90 percent of precincts reporting on both sides, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney have won their parties respective Nevada caucuses today. 

On the Democratic side, Clinton defeated Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) by a strong margin of 51 to 45 percent.  Former N.C. Sen. John Edwards received four percent of precinct delegates.

With the Republicans, Romney coasted to an easy victory over his nearest rival Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) 51 to 14 percent.  Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), who had led Romney in at least one recent poll, finished a disappointing third place with 13 percent of the vote.

Clinton’s win was largely based on her strength among Hispanics, which turned out for her almost three to one over Obama.  Additionally, the Culinary Workers Union, whose endorsement of Obama had set off the most acrimonious spat in the current Democratic campaign, was not successful in turning out their members in the numbers needed to tilt things Obama’s way.

Romney’s success was largely based on turnout among Nevada’s considerable LDS community.  According to entrance polls, nearly half of the more than 22,000 votes Romney received came from Mormons.

Unsurprisingly due to the relatively low interest among Republican candidates, Democrats stomped Republicans in turnout numbers with well over 115,000 caucus attendees compared to slightly more than 44,000 Republicans.