McCain projected to win Wisconsin

John McCain is the projected winner tonight in the Republican primary in Wisconsin.

McCain told supporters in Ohio last night that he is now confident that he will win the nomination.

"I will be our party's nominee for president of the United States," McCain declared.

"Now comes the hard part and for America the bigger decision," he said, promising to wage a campaign with passion and the right ideas.

McCain used his speech to talk at length about foreign policy, including swipes at Fidel Castro of Cuba and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. He called for a review of the US military so it defend the country against Islamic jihad.

Also previewing his general election campaign, he also emphasized balancing the federal budget without "smoke and mirrors" and called for fixing Social Security and Medicare "on our watch."

With 37 delegates at stake, the Wisconsin victory strengthens his grip on the GOP nomination over Mike Huckabee.

Huckabee has pledged to compete until a candidate can claim the 1,191 delegates necessary for the nomination. Before last night, McCain 908 to Huckabee's 245.