Ohio and Texas Turning Point for Democrats

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The fate of Hillary Clinton's U.S. presidential bid rested with voters in Ohio and Texas on Tuesday in her hard-fought Democratic duel with Barack Obama.
Voters were already heading to the polls in Vermont, Rhode Island, Ohio and Texas. Voting ends in Ohio at 7:30 p.m. EST and all voting in Texas will be over by 9 p.m. EST.
Clinton, a New York senator battling to snap Obama's string of 11 consecutive state-by-state victories, needs wins in both Ohio and Texas to rejuvenate her struggling campaign and ensure the race moves on to Pennsylvania on April 22.

DALLAS -- It will either be the beginning of the end, or a new beginning for Hillary Clinton.
With her dreams of becoming America's first female president hanging on the results of key primaries today in Texas and Ohio, the New York senator expressed optimism that momentum had turned back in her favour after several days spent harshly criticizing rival Barack Obama on national security,
NAFTA and his association with a shady Chicago political operative.

Obama has recorded 11 straight victories leading up to Tuesday's contests in Rhode Island, Vermont, Ohio and Texas — the latter two states considered crucial for both candidates. Polls show Obama and Clinton in a virtual tie in Texas and Ohio, which offer 228 and 164 delegates respectively.

Democratic
presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton will try to end the
winning streak of rival Barack Obama as they face off in four primaries
Tuesday in what some say could be the New York senator's last chance to
save her candidacy.
Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton will try to end the winning streak of rival Barack Obama as they face off in four primaries Tuesday in what some say could be the New York senator's last chance to save her candidacy.

Voters from Bond Hill to Pleasant Ridge to West Chester ignored blustery winds and rain Tuesday morning to be among the first to cast primary ballots in Ohio.
Judy Hawks was one of the first to arrive at a polling place in the city shortly after polls opened at 6:30 a.m.
She said she was buoyed by what she described as youthful energy feeding interest in this election.

The voting on Tuesday could be decisive for the race between Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton. With four states voting — Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas and Vermont —there is less to keep track of.
But with so much at stake, especially in Ohio and Texas, and with the proceedings in Texas more complicated than a simple primary, there will be no shortage of facts and analysis as the evening unfolds.

The day could also see the crowning of the GOP nominee.
Clinton must win the Democratic contests in Texas and Ohio, her supporters say, if she is to continue to compete with Sen. Barack Obama, who has won 11 contests in a row going back nearly a month.
"If Obama wins Texas and Ohio, it's game over," said CNN senior political analyst Bill Schneider.
Weather could affect the turnout in Ohio, with the northern part of the state under a winter weather advisory. Freezing rain was predicted for the afternoon and evening. The rain was expected to change over to snow later on.