In the Missouri Dem primary, Sen. Barack Obama is now leading Sen. Hillary Clinton 49.0 percent to 48.2 percent, with 98 percent of precincts reporting.

The race, called initially by the Associated Press in favor of Clinton, has apparently flipped largely on the voting of St. Louis county, according to Post-Dispatch analysis. Obama has a lead of about 8,000 votes out of almost 800,000 votes cast.

The drama of the race has consumed much national news coverage.

With the race so close, the two candidates will ultimately take almost the same number of delegates, meaning the long-term effect of the race is almost moot.

However, should Obama maintain his edge — now at about 5,000 votes — the Missouri contest will effectively amount to bragging rights, especially given the fact that the Clinton campaign itself claimed victory here.

On the GOP side, Sen. John McCain’s once tiny lead has grown a little more than a percentage point — about 7,500 votes, still a small number.