Click to play videoNew Delhi: Democratic candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will take on each other in a live televised debate on Wednesday, ahead of crucial primaries in Ohio and Texas next week.
Obama is seen as the front-runner among Democrats after winning the last 11 primaries and caucuses.
He has also won the endorsement of Senator Christopher Dodd, who was himself a candidate until last month.
Clinton will need to win convincingly in both Texas and Ohio to remain in the race.
According to a CNN poll, Obama is surging ahead of Senator Hillary Clinton in Texas and in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination for the first time.
A New York Times-CBS News poll showed 54 per cent of Democratic voters prefer Obama as the party nominee for president, while 38 per cent preferred Hillary Clinton.
Meanwhile, an Associated Press-Ipsos poll showed a slightly different result — Obama in the lead by a narrow margin of 46 per cent to 43 per cent.
The poll results indicated Obama had made inroads among white men, liberals and middle-income earners.
The two candidates square off on March 4 when Texas and Ohio hold primaries.
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