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Voting starts in key US primaries Voters turn out for key US polls
(about 3 hours later)
Voting has begun in what could be the most important day so far in the races to stand for US president. Americans are voting in what could be the most important day so far in the races to stand for US president.
Democratic front-runner Barack Obama says rival Hillary Clinton may have to quit if he wins in Texas and Ohio. She says she will stay the course. Democratic front-runner Barack Obama says rival Hillary Clinton may have to quit if he wins polls in Texas and Ohio. She says she will carry on.
Contests in two smaller states also voting - Vermont and Rhode Island - may prove crucial in such a tight race.Contests in two smaller states also voting - Vermont and Rhode Island - may prove crucial in such a tight race.
On the Republican side, Senator John McCain - already comfortably ahead of his rivals - could seal the nomination.On the Republican side, Senator John McCain - already comfortably ahead of his rivals - could seal the nomination.
But most attention is focused on the Democrats' battle.But most attention is focused on the Democrats' battle.
I think Hillary will win Ohio but by a very small margin, which may not be enough to save her campaign US voter Faith Barrow-Waheed, Cleveland, Ohio Voters' views: Texas and OhioVoting in picturesSend us your predictionsI think Hillary will win Ohio but by a very small margin, which may not be enough to save her campaign US voter Faith Barrow-Waheed, Cleveland, Ohio Voters' views: Texas and OhioVoting in picturesSend us your predictions
For the Democrats, Texas is the biggest prize remaining, with 228 delegates to the nominating party convention in August up for grabs.For the Democrats, Texas is the biggest prize remaining, with 228 delegates to the nominating party convention in August up for grabs.
Voting there is proportional, meaning that Mrs Clinton needs landslide victories on Tuesday and beyond even to catch up with Mr Obama. Voting in the Democratic polls is proportional, meaning that Mrs Clinton needs landslide victories on Tuesday and beyond to catch up with Mr Obama.
An opinion poll published as voting began gave Mrs Clinton a narrow lead in Texas - though within the poll's margin of error. It had the two candidates exactly level in Ohio.An opinion poll published as voting began gave Mrs Clinton a narrow lead in Texas - though within the poll's margin of error. It had the two candidates exactly level in Ohio.
"I feel really good about today," Mrs Clinton told early voters in Houston. "I think it's going to turn out well." "I feel really good about today," Mrs Clinton told voters in Houston. "I think it's going to turn out well."
She added: "You don't get to the White House as a Democrat without winning Ohio."
Democrats eye prizeLast tango in TexasDemocrats eye prizeLast tango in Texas
Mr Obama showed equal confidence.
"We know this has been an extraordinary election," he said. "We're working hard to do as well as we can."
Mr Obama has spent twice as much as Mrs Clinton on TV adverts in the state, including ones in Spanish. Hispanics account for about one in five eligible voters in Texas.
Since the nationwide Super Tuesday contests on 5 February, Mr Obama has won 11 states in succession and leads Mrs Clinton in the delegate count.Since the nationwide Super Tuesday contests on 5 February, Mr Obama has won 11 states in succession and leads Mrs Clinton in the delegate count.
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id="tab_1" class="tab">Democrats

id="cont_1" class="supertues">
Hillary Clinton13 states, 1,276 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama23 states, 1,386 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates) href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7224970.stm">Q&A: US election delegates

id="tab_2" class="tab">Republicans

id="cont_2" class="supertues">
Mike Huckabee8 states, 257 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain16 states, 1014 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin
Mitt Romney11 states, 255 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)
For the Democrats, a total of 370 delegates are at stake in the four races, which includes 67 delegates up for grabs in Texas caucuses, which begin after the day-long primary vote. 		Mr Obama seemed confident that he would win in the end.
Mr Obama currently has 1,385 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,276, according to AP. A total of 2,025 is needed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination. "We've got a very sizeable delegate lead that is going to be hard to overcome," he told reporters travelling with him.
"You'll recall that when we were running those 1 races in a row the theory was they had to blow us out in Texas and Ohio.
"I don't think that's going to happen," he said.
Mr Obama has spent twice as much as Mrs Clinton on TV adverts in the state, including ones in Spanish. Hispanics account for about one in five eligible voters in Texas.

Democrats

Hillary Clinton13 states, 1,276 delegates
Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Tennessee
Barack Obama23 states, 1,386 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin2,025 delegates needed for nomination. Source AP (includes all kinds of delegates)Q&A: US election delegates

Republicans

Mike Huckabee8 states, 257 delegates
Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kansas, Louisiana
John McCain16 states, 1014 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington state, Wisconsin
Mitt Romney11 states, 255 delegates
Campaign suspendedAlaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Wyoming, Utah1,191 delegates needed for nomination. Source: AP (includes all kinds of delegates)
For the Democrats, a total of 370 delegates are at stake in the four races, which includes 67 delegates up for grabs in Texas caucuses, which begin after the day-long primary vote.
Mr Obama currently has 1,385 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,276, according to the Associated Press. A total of 2,025 is needed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination.
The New York senator and former first lady has played down suggestions that she is facing a make-or-break moment.The New York senator and former first lady has played down suggestions that she is facing a make-or-break moment.
New Mexico's Democratic Governor Bill Richardson, an influential voice who used to be in the race himself, has suggested that whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday's votes should be the party nominee.New Mexico's Democratic Governor Bill Richardson, an influential voice who used to be in the race himself, has suggested that whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday's votes should be the party nominee.
POLLS CLOSE Vermont 0000gmtOhio 0030GMTVermont 0200GMTTexas 0200GMT - caucuses then begin
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, who is in the Ohio capital, Columbus, says the struggle between the two senators remains fierce and close, and it is far from certain that America will get the clear outcome from these latest battles that it craves.The BBC's Kevin Connolly, who is in the Ohio capital, Columbus, says the struggle between the two senators remains fierce and close, and it is far from certain that America will get the clear outcome from these latest battles that it craves.
The day's voting ends in Rhode Island at 0200 GMT on Wednesday.
Mrs Clinton has been focusing her attacks on Mr Obama's foreign policy and national security experience, echoing a campaign advert asking who would respond better to a national emergency in the middle of the night.Mrs Clinton has been focusing her attacks on Mr Obama's foreign policy and national security experience, echoing a campaign advert asking who would respond better to a national emergency in the middle of the night.
The advert says: "It's 3am and your children are safe and asleep, but there's a phone in the White House and it's ringing... who do you want answering the phone?"The advert says: "It's 3am and your children are safe and asleep, but there's a phone in the White House and it's ringing... who do you want answering the phone?"
Mrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White House Clinton's campaign adMrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White House Clinton's campaign ad
Mr Obama, senator for Illinois, has countered that with an advert questioning Mrs Clinton's judgement in supporting the invasion of Iraq from the start.Mr Obama, senator for Illinois, has countered that with an advert questioning Mrs Clinton's judgement in supporting the invasion of Iraq from the start.
Meanwhile, Mr Obama denied on Monday that his campaign had privately assured Canada his criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), widely opposed in economically depressed Ohio, was just for political show.Meanwhile, Mr Obama denied on Monday that his campaign had privately assured Canada his criticism of the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), widely opposed in economically depressed Ohio, was just for political show.
A leaked memo suggested Mr Obama's senior economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, had given Canadian officials the impression that Mr Obama's criticism over the US free trade deal with Canada was "political positioning".A leaked memo suggested Mr Obama's senior economic adviser, Austan Goolsbee, had given Canadian officials the impression that Mr Obama's criticism over the US free trade deal with Canada was "political positioning".
John McCain is expected to beat rival Mike HuckabeeJohn McCain is expected to beat rival Mike Huckabee
The dispute led Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to assure parliament that the memo leak was not an attempt to scupper Mr Obama's chances or to favour Mr McCain, who strongly backs Nafta.The dispute led Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper to assure parliament that the memo leak was not an attempt to scupper Mr Obama's chances or to favour Mr McCain, who strongly backs Nafta.
On the Republican side, Senator McCain is expected to beat his rival Mike Huckabee in all four states.On the Republican side, Senator McCain is expected to beat his rival Mike Huckabee in all four states.
Mr McCain currently has 1,014 delegates, according to the Associated Press news agency, while Mr Huckabee has 257. A total of 1,191 delegates is needed to claim the nomination at the party's national convention in September.Mr McCain currently has 1,014 delegates, according to the Associated Press news agency, while Mr Huckabee has 257. A total of 1,191 delegates is needed to claim the nomination at the party's national convention in September.