COLUMBUS/OHIO, 5 March 2008 - The race is on. But who will win? Ohio and Texas may help determine the outcome.

Polls opened at 6:30 a.m. yesterday on a cold and wet note. A drive by survey showed more women voters in the white neighborhood of Worthington.

In the predominantly black area of Cleveland Avenue there seemed to be a bigger turnout of people - mostly Obama supporters.

Ohio is a state filled with blue-collar people who have been hit hard by the loss of manufacturing jobs in the new globalizing economy of free trade agreements and relocating factories overseas.

Voters there are looking for someone to rescue them. Unemployment and a sluggish economy are the main issues for Ohioans.

The state - which in 2004 gave George Bush a second term in office, supported the war and sent thousands of troops to Iraq - is now war weary. Popular signs, "Support our troops," now have a new line under them: "Bring them home."

But in the end it may be the "economy, stupid" that causes voters to flee the Republican administration that will be leaving a US economy limping along in recession or near-recession conditions.

Hillary Clinton is expected to win but by a narrow margin. But her double-digit lead was narrowed quickly when Obama came courting the Ohioans.

"I am voting for Obama today," Richard, 25, told Arab News. "I feel I can trust him. He voted against the war and has not changed his stance unlike Clinton."

Nicole, whose fiancee is in the army, said she was voting for Hillary.

"Obama sounds too perfect to be true. He seems to have elaborate plans for every problem. I can understand Clinton's stance on war. I know she will bring the troops home."

Maha, an Arab American, said she was supporting Obama.

"He is going to give the right to a trial for the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and he doesn't support legislation that endorses racial profiling," she said. "He voted against the Iraq war and wants to bring it to an end. On a side note, he reminds me of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X."

Mohammad said he was voting for Sen. John McCain although the majority of Muslims in Ohio were voting for the Democrats.

"McCain is the only candidate who has an exit plan in Iraq. I believe that if you withdraw troops too soon, too fast it will hurt the Iraqis more. I know McCain won't win, but I am voting according to my conscience," he said.

In Texas, the Clintons are well liked by the Latinos, who constitute 20 percent of registered voters. One placard at a Hillary Clinton rally read: "Hillary the first Latina President."

Obama is virtually unknown in Texas, but his relentless campaigning in the state has made him popular with younger Latinos. He also has the support of the majority African Americans.

To get the Democratic nomination a candidate must win 2,025 of the 4,049 delegates. Delegates are chosen to represent their states at their party conventions prior to the presidential elections. Delegates must cast their votes in favor of one candidate.