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US states to hold crucial ballots US states to hold crucial ballots
(about 5 hours later)
The races for both the Democratic and Republican US presidential nominations could be settled as four states vote in a major round of primary elections.The races for both the Democratic and Republican US presidential nominations could be settled as four states vote in a major round of primary elections.
The main focus is on the polls in Ohio and Texas but votes are also taking place in Rhode Island and Vermont. The main focus is on Ohio and Texas but votes are also taking place in Rhode Island and Vermont.
Democratic front-runner Barack Obama has said rival Hillary Clinton may have to quit if he wins in Texas and Ohio, but she has vowed to stay the course.Democratic front-runner Barack Obama has said rival Hillary Clinton may have to quit if he wins in Texas and Ohio, but she has vowed to stay the course.
John McCain could be confirmed as the Republican candidate in the polls. Arizona Senator John McCain could be confirmed as the Republican candidate.
The Arizona senator is expected to beat his rival Mike Huckabee in the four states. He is expected to beat his rival Mike Huckabee in the four states, which could secure him enough of the 256 delegates at stake to clinch his party's nomination.
Gaining ground 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 class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7267370.stm">Voters' views: Texas and Ohio 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.
Victory could secure him enough of the 256 delegates at stake to clinch his party's nomination at its national convention in September.
I think I know what's happening and I believe I'm going to do very well tomorrow Hillary Clinton Clinton's steely resolveDemocrats eye prizeLast tango in Texas
He 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.
For the Democrats, opinion polls suggest Mr Obama has a narrow lead over Mrs Clinton in Texas, but that she is clinging on to her modest lead in Ohio.For the Democrats, opinion polls suggest Mr Obama has a narrow lead over Mrs Clinton in Texas, but that she is clinging on to her modest lead in Ohio.
Mrs Clinton held an early lead in the two states, although Mr Obama has been gaining ground in both states. Mrs Clinton had an early lead in the two states, but Mr Obama has been gaining ground.
The former first lady has played down suggestions that Tuesday's results could prove a make-or-break moment. Clinton under pressure
"I think I know what's happening and I believe I'm going to do very well tomorrow," she told reporters on Monday. For the Democrats, Texas is the biggest prize remaining, with 228 delegates up for grabs.
Her last win in a primary or a caucus was during the nationwide Super Tuesday contests on 5 February, since when Mr Obama has been on an 11-contest winning spree. class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7275538.stm">Democrats eye prize class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7273352.stm">Last tango in Texas 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.
The BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington says that if the New York senator cannot end her losing streak, senior party figures may dare to ask - in public or in private - if she should continue. 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.
Barack Obama denied "political positioning" over free trade For the Democrats, voting is proportional, meaning that Mrs Clinton needs landslide victories on Tuesday and beyond even to catch up with Mr Obama.
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 party nominee. But the New York senator and former first lady has played down suggestions that she is facing a make-or-break moment.
On the eve of the poll, Mrs Clinton visited Ohio before heading to Texas, where Mr Obama has also campaigned hard. type="text/css" rel="stylesheet" href="/nol/shared/bsp/hi/americas/08/super_tuesday/css/tab_box.css" />

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)
 "What we're going to find out tomorrow is what two really big states have to say, because after all it's still a very close contest in terms of the popular vote and the number of delegates," she told a television talk show late on Monday.
The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Ohio says the economy is a main concern in that state, where unemployment and home repossession rates are above the national average. But the BBC's Vincent Dowd in Washington says that if the New York senator cannot end her losing streak, senior party figures may dare to ask - in public or in private - whether she should continue.
Leaked memo 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.
During weekend rallies in Ohio, Mrs Clinton focused 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 day's voting begins in Ohio at 1130 GMT and ends in Rhode Island at 0200 GMT on Wednesday.
Mr Obama, senator for Illinois, countered by questioning Mrs Clinton's own credentials. For the Democrats, a total of 370 delegates are at stake in the four races, which includes 64 delegates up for grabs in Texas caucuses, which begin after the day-long primary vote.
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 Ohio
For the Democrats, a total of 370 delegates is at stake in Tuesday's four races, most of them in Texas and Ohio.
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 at its national convention in August.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 at its national convention in August.
Leaked memo
The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Ohio says the economy is a main concern in that state, where unemployment and home repossession rates are above the national average.
Mrs Clinton insists she can go all the way to the White HouseOn the eve of the poll, Mrs Clinton visited Ohio before heading to Texas, where Mr Obama has also campaigned hard.
Mrs Clinton planned to return to Ohio on Tuesday to await the results while Mr Obama was staying in Texas.
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.
Mr Obama, senator for Illinois, has countered that by questioning Mrs Clinton's own credentials.
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".
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.