Chicago ? John Kerry, with only phantom rivals and pushovers left in the Democratic race, easily won four Southern primaries Tuesday to bring him within striking distance of the presidential nomination.

Kerry swept Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana on a night when the names of old foes remained on ballots printed when there was still a real competition. He was winning more than three-quarters of the votes in Florida and Mississippi, and about two-thirds in the other states, with three-fourths of precincts reporting in Texas and almost all reporting elsewhere.

President Bush had a notable night of his own, if one with even less suspense: The unchallenged president crossed the necessary threshold of 1,255 delegates to wrap up the Republican nomination, according to an Associated Press count.

Campaigning for the March 16 Illinois primary, Kerry criticized the nation’s new prescription drug program and argued Bush has done little to help the elderly.

“It must be getting lonely for George Bush,” Kerry said in an appearance with Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. “It seems he’s the last person left in America who actually believes his failed policies will ever work.”

He welcomed his four victories in remarks at Chicago’s Union Station and took another shot at Bush: “This president doesn’t have a record to run on, only a record to run from, so he’s already resorting to personal attacks.”

Kerry may soon get help from former rival Howard Dean, who was meeting with the nominee-in-waiting today to discuss a possible endorsement, sources said.

Kerry essentially locked up the contest last week after the departure of chief rival John Edwards. Exit polls of voters in the four states found Edwards, a North Carolina senator, a popular choice in the region for Kerry’s running mate. More than four in 10 people surveyed said they’d like to see him on the ticket.

Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Rev. Al Sharpton, both trailing Kerry distantly, were still in the race, but Sharpton didn’t make it on the Louisiana ballot. Edwards was running second to Kerry in the four states despite dropping out.