Day of reckoning for Clinton, Obama

Barack Obama sought a knockout against rival Hillary Rodham Clinton as voting began yesterday in crucial contests in Texas and Ohio, where the former first lady desperately needs a win to salvage her once-powerful candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Both expressed confidence in their chances the previous night, which they spent in the same Texas city. But both teams also acknowledged that split decisions and close votes could prolong the battle for at least another month – or more.”We know this has been an extraordinary election.It continues to be.We’re working hard to do as well as we can,” said Obama, who planned to await Texas returns in San Antonio.”I’m just getting warmed up,” Clinton told reporters, a clear sign that she expects to press the campaign on beyond yesterday no matter the outcome.She planned to open Election Day in Houston and Dallas, but then head back to Ohio for more campaign events.She was due to await results in Columbus before returning to Washington last night.Polls show tight races in both Texas and Ohio.The Obama campaign saw Texas as their best opportunity, while the Clinton campaign saw Ohio as theirs.Texas offers 228 delegates, Ohio 164.”Your voice can win an election,” Obama told a noisy late-night rally in Houston.Repeating a signature election refrain, he shouted: “I have only one question for you: Are you fired up? Ready to go?” When the crowd roared its approval, he added: “Let’s go change the world.”His wife, Michelle, had a more subdued message for the cheering supporters: “We have a lot of work to do.”Eric Gingerich, 36, a junior high social studies teacher, normally votes Republican, but voted yesterday for Obama at an elementary school in Hilliard, Ohio, near Columbus.”I like how he can bring the two parties together and the country together,” he said.Republican scandals in Ohio have made him more open to Democrats, but Gingerich said Clinton is too polarising.”If anybody is going to pull me over to the Democrats it’s Barack, not Hillary,” he said.The economy was on the mind of Gretchen Genung, 61, a state employee who voted for Clinton in Cincinnati.”We know where the economy is right now, we know where it’s going and we need somebody in there like Hillary who has the experience,” Genung said.Nampa-APBut both teams also acknowledged that split decisions and close votes could prolong the battle for at least another month – or more.”We know this has been an extraordinary election.It continues to be.We’re working hard to do as well as we can,” said Obama, who planned to await Texas returns in San Antonio.”I’m just getting warmed up,” Clinton told reporters, a clear sign that she expects to press the campaign on beyond yesterday no matter the outcome.She planned to open Election Day in Houston and Dallas, but then head back to Ohio for more campaign events.She was due to await results in Columbus before returning to Washington last night.Polls show tight races in both Texas and Ohio.The Obama campaign saw Texas as their best opportunity, while the Clinton campaign saw Ohio as theirs.Texas offers 228 delegates, Ohio 164.”Your voice can win an election,” Obama told a noisy late-night rally in Houston.Repeating a signature election refrain, he shouted: “I have only one question for you: Are you fired up? Ready to go?” When the crowd roared its approval, he added: “Let’s go change the world.”His wife, Michelle, had a more subdued message for the cheering supporters: “We have a lot of work to do.”Eric Gingerich, 36, a junior high social studies teacher, normally votes Republican, but voted yesterday for Obama at an elementary school in Hilliard, Ohio, near Columbus.”I like how he can bring the two parties together and the country together,” he said.Republican scandals in Ohio have made him more open to Democrats, but Gingerich said Clinton is too polarising.”If anybody is going to pull me over to the Democrats it’s Barack, not Hillary,” he said.The economy was on the mind of Gretchen Genung, 61, a state employee who voted for Clinton in Cincinnati.”We know where the economy is right now, we know where it’s going and we need somebody in there like Hillary who has the experience,” Genung said.Nampa-AP