The New Nation - Internet Edition

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Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are deadlocked in Texas and Ohio heading into potentially decisive presidential showdowns, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Houston Chronicle poll released today.

Mrs Clinton is fighting to save her White House candidacy in the two primaries on Tuesday.

Mr Obama, an Illinois senator, has beaten her in 11 consecutive contests to take control of the race for the Democratic nomination in November's presidential election.

In Texas, Mr Obama leads 45 per cent to 43 per cent, down from a 6-point advantage on Friday and well within the poll's margin of error of 4 percentage points.

In Ohio, they are dead even at 45 per cent. Mrs Clinton, a New York senator and former first lady, had led by 2 points on Friday in the rolling poll conducted by Zogby International.

Republican front-runner John McCain had huge leads in both states over his last major rival, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, as he moves closer to clinching the Republican nomination.

Mr McCain, an Arizona senator, can come close to winning the 1191 delegates needed to clinch the nomination with big wins on Tuesday. The delegates select the nominee at September's Republican Party convention.

In the Democratic race, Mrs Clinton made overnight gains in Texas in some of her strongest voting blocs, including older and women voters. She pulled almost even with Mr Obama among voters who made their decision in the last few days.

"Hillary Clinton may be making a connection with Democratic voters in Texas, especially among those in key demographic groups that have supported her all year," pollster John Zogby said.

Mrs Clinton also kept her big lead among Hispanic voters in Texas, who could account for one-third or more of the total turnout. She had huge advantages in the heavily Hispanic southern and western parts of the state.