Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton meets with employees of Paris Las Vegas during a visit to the hotel and casino on Thursday, February 18, 2016, in Las Vegas. (AP)
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton narrowly won the Nevada caucuses on Saturday, beating back a stronger-than-expected challenge from rival Bernie Sanders.
With 65 per cent of the precincts reporting, Clinton was leading with 52.2 per cent of the vote to Sanders' 47.8 per cent. Television networks Fox News and MSNBC projected Clinton would win. Vote counting was delayed in Nevada by heavy turnout.
"This is your win," Clinton said in a tweet, thanking supporters for her victory.
Clinton's narrow margin of victory in a state where she was once expected to win by double digits suggested the Democratic nominating race could be long and hard-fought, with Sanders performing strongly in a state with a heavy minority population.
Sanders was hoping to prove his appeal to minority voters in Nevada and puncture Clinton's argument that he is a one-note candidate whose support is limited to mostly white states.
After routing Clinton in New Hampshire and finishing a strong second in Iowa - states with nearly all-white populations - Nevada gave Sanders his first chance to prove he can win over black and Hispanic voters and compete nationally as the race moves to states with more diverse populations.
Hillary Clinton has won Saturday's Democratic presidential caucuses in Nevada, US networks projected, giving her a much-needed victory over rival Bernie Sanders in the race for the White House nomination.
"To everyone who turned out in every corner of Nevada with determination and heart: This is your win. Thank you," Clinton tweeted, shortly after Fox News and NBC News called the contest in her favor.
© Thomson Reuters 2016