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March 4, 2008: The Texas and Ohio Democratic Primaries to be held today will be crucial in determining the future prospects of Sen. Hillary Clinton in the nomination run. She faces steep competition from fellow-Democrat Barack Obama for the Democratic ticket to the US Presidency. A dream run for Illinois Senator Barack Obama has seen him defeat Sen. Clinton in 11 states consecutively after the Super Tuesday showdown on Feb. 5. Although the states of Rhode Island and Vermont are also holding Democratic Primaries today, yet the focus will be largely on Texas and Ohio because of the larger number of delegates that these two states have to offer.
Texas, with 193 Democratic delegates, can play a decisive role in determining the Democratic nomination. Texas is usually considered to be a stronghold for the Clintons. Moreover, Hillary Clinton has long wooed the high percentage of Hispanic voters in the state, who may play a very significant role in deciding the results in the March 4 Primaries. However, the runaway success of Sen. Obama in the last few primaries has considerably narrowed down the margin of popularity between him and Sen. Clinton.
Texas moreover, follows a combination of Primaries and Caucuses. 42 of the total Texas delegates will be elected through the caucuses. Obama has till date done extremely well in states holding caucuses. It will be no surprise if Obama repeats the success in Texas as well. Clinton will depend largely on the Texas Primaries to counter his growing popularity. However, one should not forget that African-Americans account for 25% of the state's total electoral strength, and can play a significant role in determining the projected winner from the state.
Ohio has a strength of 141 Democratic delegates. Job opportunities and the health care plans will be the chief issues at the largely industrial Ohio. Ohio was hit hard by the downturn in the US economy over the last few years, and a number of manufacturing companies have left the state in search of greener pastures, resulting in large scale unemployment and general crisis in economy. Job security and economic issues are therefore quite obviously the deciding factors at the Ohio Primary. Obama and Clinton run neck to neck in this state as well. Two labor unions, with a combined force of about 100,000 electorates, who were supporting Sen. John Edwards at the beginning of the Primary season, have switched loyalties to Sen. Barack Obama. Clinton has forwarded her health care plans with universal coverage to woo the voters at Ohio.
Clinton is popular in Rhode Island, a state with only 21 delegates to the National Convention. Vermont is even smaller with 15 delegates, which probably explains why none of the frontrunners campaigned there.
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