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Obama and McCain 'to win Vermont' Obama and McCain 'to win Vermont'
(20 minutes later)
Democratic front-runner Barack Obama is projected to win Vermont, the first state to complete polling on a key day in the battle to run for US president.Democratic front-runner Barack Obama is projected to win Vermont, the first state to complete polling on a key day in the battle to run for US president.
But US networks say the contest between him and rival Hillary Clinton in the larger Ohio poll is too close to call.But US networks say the contest between him and rival Hillary Clinton in the larger Ohio poll is too close to call.
Republican John McCain - well ahead in his party's race - is projected to win both Vermont and Ohio.Republican John McCain - well ahead in his party's race - is projected to win both Vermont and Ohio.
Texas and tiny Rhode Island are the other states where elections for both parties are being held. Voting continues in Texas and tiny Rhode Island, the other states where both parties' elections are being held.
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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7277966.stm">Voting in pictures class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4409&edition=1">Send us your predictions If Mr McCain wins all four states ahead of chief rival Mike Huckabee, he may clinch the Republican nomination. If Mr McCain wins all four states ahead of chief rival Mike Huckabee, he may clinch the Republican nomination.
Very early results in Vermont suggest Mr McCain has taken 72% of the vote to Mr Huckabee's 15%, while Mr Obama is leading Mrs Clinton by 59% to 40%. 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 class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7277966.stm">Voting in pictures class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4409&edition=1">Send us your predictions Very early results in Vermont suggest Mr McCain has taken 70% of the vote to Mr Huckabee's 16%, while Mr Obama leads Mrs Clinton by 58% to 40%.
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 in the Democratic polls is proportional, meaning that Mrs Clinton needs landslide victories on Tuesday and beyond 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 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." class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7275538.stm">Democrats eye prize class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7273352.stm">Last tango in Texas She added: "You don't get to the White House as a Democrat without winning Ohio."
Democrats eye prizeLast tango 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.
Mr Obama seemed confident that he would win in the end.Mr Obama seemed confident that he would win in the end.
"We've got a very sizeable delegate lead that is going to be hard to overcome," he told reporters travelling with him."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 11 races in a row the theory was they had to blow us out in Texas and Ohio. "You'll recall that when we were running those 11 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."
"I don't think that's going to happen." Mr Obama has spent twice as much as Mrs Clinton on TV adverts in the state, including a number in Spanish.
Mr Obama has spent twice as much as Mrs Clinton on TV adverts in the state, including a number 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 Obama24 states, 1,397 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, 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 McCain18 states, 1062 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, 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)

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 Obama24 states, 1,397 delegates
Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, 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 McCain18 states, 1062 delegates
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Vermont, 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)
According to exit polls for the Associated Press news agency, however, they have cast nearly a third of the election day votes in the state - up from a quarter in 2004. In previous contests this year, they have favoured Mrs Clinton. According to exit polls for the Associated Press news agency, Hispanics cast nearly a third of the election day votes in Texas - up from a quarter in 2004. In previous contests this year, they have favoured Mrs Clinton.
African-American voters - who have heavily supported Mr Obama - accounted for about a fifth of the votes cast in Texas, exit polls indicate, about the same as four years ago.African-American voters - who have heavily supported Mr Obama - accounted for about a fifth of the votes cast in Texas, exit polls indicate, about the same as four years ago.
The economy was the most important issue for Democratic voters in all four states, especially Ohio, exit polls suggest. The Iraq war came a close second in Vermont. The economy was the most important issue for Democratic voters in all four states, especially Ohio, according to the exit polls.
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.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 had 1,386 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,276 going into Tuesday's contests, according to the AP. A total of 2,025 is needed to secure the Democratic Party's nomination. Mr Obama had 1,386 delegates to Mrs Clinton's 1,276 going into Tuesday's contests, the AP calculated. 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 was facing a make-or-break moment.
POLLS CLOSE Vermont 0000GMTOhio 0030GMTRhode Island 0200GMTTexas 0200GMT - caucuses then begin New Mexico's Democratic Governor Bill Richardson, an influential voice who was in the race himself until January, has suggested that whoever has the most delegates after Tuesday's votes should be the party nominee.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Ohio's state 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.
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 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
The New York senator and former first lady has played down suggestions she is facing a make-or-break moment.
The BBC's Kevin Connolly, in Ohio's state 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.
Mrs Clinton has 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.
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.
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 closest rival Mike HuckabeeJohn McCain is expected to beat closest 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. 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.
On the Republican side, Mr McCain is expected to beat Mr Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, in all four states.On the Republican side, Mr McCain is expected to beat Mr Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, in all four states.
The Arizona senator had 1,014 delegates before Tuesday's ballots, according to the AP, while Mr Huckabee had 257.The Arizona senator had 1,014 delegates before Tuesday's ballots, according to the AP, while Mr Huckabee had 257.
A total of 1,191 delegates is needed to claim the nomination at the party's national convention in September.A total of 1,191 delegates is needed to claim the nomination at the party's national convention in September.