( CNN ) -- Sen. John McCain cemented his front-runner status Tuesday , piling up big wins coast-to-coast , according to CNN projections . Democratic voters remain evenly split over which of their candidates they would rather see get the nomination . Sen. Barack Obama won more states Tuesday , but Sen. Hillary Clinton won states with higher delegate counts . McCain capped the night by taking California and its 170 delegates . After having been nearly written off last summer , the Arizona senator finally felt comfortable enough to call himself the front-runner . `` Tonight I think we must get used to the idea that we are the Republican Party front-runner for the nomination of president of the United States . And I do n't really mind it one bit , '' he said as results came in Tuesday . Watch McCain claim front-runner status » . On the Democratic side , Clinton took California , according to CNN projections . While most Republican contests are winner-take-all , most Democratic contests are awarded proportionally based on the number of congressional districts won . Clinton took the larger share of California 's 370 Democratic delegates . More about delegates . `` We know what we need is someone ready on day one to solve our problems and seize those opportunities , '' Clinton said Tuesday . `` Because when the bright lights are off and the cameras are gone , who can you count on to listen to you , to stand up for you , to deliver solutions for you ? '' Watch Clinton speak to her supporters » . McCain also won Connecticut , Illinois , Missouri , New Jersey , New York , Oklahoma , Delaware and Arizona , his home state , according to CNN projections . Full February 5 results . McCain has gathered 514 delegates so far in his presidential campaign , including Tuesday night 's projections . Former Massachusetts Gov . Mitt Romney has 177 delegates , and former Arkansas Gov . Mike Huckabee has 122 . What do the results mean ? » . In Georgia , Huckabee edged out McCain , who held a slim margin over Romney . Romney got wins in Alaska , Colorado , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Montana and Utah . See who won the popular vote in each state » . `` One thing that 's clear -- this campaign 's going on , '' Romney said . `` I think there 's some people who thought that it was all going to be done tonight , but it 's not all done tonight . We 're going to keep on battling . '' Watch Romney vow to fight » . In addition to Georgia , Huckabee picked up Alabama , Arkansas , Tennessee and West Virginia . Watch what Huckabee says about Tuesday 's results » . Going into Super Tuesday , the Republican race had largely been viewed as a fight between McCain and Romney . `` Over the past few days , a lot of people have been trying to say that this is a two-man race . Well , you know what ? It is , and we 're in it , '' Huckabee said as the results came in . In all , 1,020 Republican delegates were up for grabs Tuesday . To clinch the nomination , a candidate must win 1,191 delegates . Tuesday 's contests did not produce a front-runner on the Democratic side . `` Our time has come , our movement is real and change is coming to America , '' Obama said Tuesday . `` We are more than a collection of red states and blue states . We are and always will be the United States of America . '' Watch Obama rally his supporters » . The biggest prizes that Obama won were his home state of Illinois and Georgia , and a larger share of the 288 delegates in those states . Obama also won Alabama , Alaska , Colorado , Connecticut , Delaware , Idaho , Kansas , Minnesota , Missouri , North Dakota and Utah . Between those states , he would be awarded the larger share of 278 delegates . Watch what the early results mean » . Clinton was also projected to win her home state of New York , New Jersey and Massachusetts , and the larger share of the 329 delegates at stake in those states . Clinton also won Arizona , Arkansas , Oklahoma and Tennessee , and the larger share of the 235 delegates in those states . Republican conservative voters appear to be evenly split between Romney and Huckabee , according to preliminary exit polls of Super Tuesday voters . Of those who voted for Huckabee or Romney , about 80 percent identified themselves as conservative , according to the polls . Watch why voters picked their candidates » . Only 49 percent of McCain 's voters said they were conservative , a sign that the Arizona senator 's efforts during the past week to placate conservative voters have not paid off . On the Democratic side , those who made up their mind in the past three days appear to be torn between Obama and Clinton . According to the exit polls , Obama and Clinton are essentially splitting those voters , with 47 percent going for Obama and 46 percent for Clinton . Watch how CNN analysts view the GOP race » . On the Republican side , front-runners McCain and Romney have engaged in bitter exchanges over their conservative records in recent weeks . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Bill Schneider contributed to this report .
McCain solidifies front-runner status . Clinton takes delegate-rich states . Huckabee , Romney vow to keep fighting . Obama winning more states , but Clinton winning states with more delegates .