Democrata Don't Expect Knockout Win

The month long political fight in Texas and Ohio concludes in today's primaries, but the campaigns of U.S. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama signaled Monday that neither expects a knockout punch for the Democratic presidential nomination.

The expectations were lowered because the polls in Texas and Ohio showed the race was too close to call. Plus, the complex system of Texas delegates being chosen by both popular vote and through caucuses makes it possible for the popular vote winner to come up short in delegates.

A tracking poll Monday showed Clinton leading Obama 46.6 percent to 43.5 percent in Texas and essentially tied in Ohio: Clinton, 44 percent; Obama, 44.4 percent. The margin of error was plus or minus 3.4 percentage points in both surveys. The Houston Chronicle, Reuters, C-Span tracking polls were conducted by Zogby International.

East Texas is essential to Democratic Primary

Battleground Texas in the Democratic presidential primary is firming up, with Hillary Rodham Clinton in control of South Texas and Barack Obama apparently owning Houston and Dallas, a new tracking poll shows.

And in the one-time bastion of the Texas Democratic Party — East Texas — the race is swinging back and forth.

Statewide, Obama holds a lead, but pollster John Zogby said the race is too close to call, especially with heavy turnout in early voting. Zogby said Obama is leading Clinton among young voters, men, blacks and holds almost 60 percent support in Houston and Dallas.

Radio Stations, In Houston, Will Give Away Clinton Tickets

At least half a dozen radio stations will distribute 750 free tickets to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech Thursday at an energy summit sponsored by the Greater Houston Partnership.

The Tickets cost $450 to $750 a person. As a result of the high price, a lot of voters would be unable to attend. The event will be held at the George R. Brown Convention Center. The stations agreeing to participate as of late Tuesday were KTRH-AM (740); KLAT-AM (1010); KPFT-FM (90.1); KTRU-FM (91.7) (KPTY-FM (93.3); and KMJQ-FM (102.1).

Hillary Defends Super Delegates'System

While Hillary Clinton was in New Orleans Saturday, she gave the following view concerning super delegates:

Clinton said this is the first time she remembers the system, in place for decades, becoming an election issue. She said super delegates play an important role in the selection process. They are like "party elders" who have relationships with the candidates that regular voters cannot match, she said when asked whether the system is fair.

Do you think the system is fair?

Clinton To Speak At Black Forum

Presidential politics will take center stage in New Orleans on Saturday at the annual "State of the Black Union" symposium, where the hottest topic is likely to be which candidate is there and which one isn't.

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton will address a largely African-American crowd of thousands in New Orleans' Ernest M. Morial Convention Center -- where thousands of the city's poorest residents sought shelter in squalid conditions after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Clinton's Democratic rival, is skipping the event. He'll focus instead on campaigning in Texas and Ohio in hopes of delivering a knockout blow to Clinton in those states' presidential primaries March 4.

The Republican presidential candidates, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, also declined to attend the symposium, which Tavis Smiley, the TV and radio talk show host, organized and will host.

Clinton Will Not Debate In Houston

While the Democratic presidential hopefuls won't be squaring off for a debate in Houston, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton still plans to attend an energy forum at the George R. Brown Convention Center Feb. 28.

The Greater Houston Partnership, which organized the forum, had hoped to lure the New York senator and rival Barack Obama to a potentially dramatic showdown just five days before the March 4 Texas primary.

But earlier this week, the two Democratic candidates agreed to debate next Thursday in Austin. Partnerships officials were still hoping the candidates would agree to participate in the forum.