Hillary will win primary, says Bush

US President George W. Bush, breaking his rule not to talk about US presidential politics, says he believes Hillary Rodham Clinton will defeat Barack Obama in Democratic presidential primary voting.

Bush also predicts that Clinton will be defeated in the November 2008 general election by the Republican nominee. "I believe our candidate can beat her but it's going to be a tough race," the president said.

In primary election voting and party caucuses early next year voters either choose representatives who will nominate a candidate at party conventions in mid-2008 or indicate a preference for a candidate. At the end of the primary process, leading candidates from both parties usually emerge forcing rivals to drop out of the race.