(CNN) – It’s interesting to take a look at the white vote in both Texas and Ohio. Clinton only holds a 1 point lead among these voters in Texas, but in Ohio her advantage is much stronger - she's beating Obama among whites there by 23 points, 61 percent to 38 percent.
Why the disparity? I suspect it has to do with the economy. It’s a larger issue for Ohio voters than those in Texas, and Clinton has a stronger advantage among those worried about the economy in Ohio than those in Texas. Her closing ads in Ohio largely focused on her ability to deal with the economy, and she sharply criticized Obama for an advisor's comment to a Canadian official about NAFTA - a key issue among many of the state's working class whites.
Related: CNN Political Researcher Alan Silverleib analyzes Ohio exit polls
–CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
(CNN) - A federal judge has ordered 15 polling stations in Cuyahoga County, Ohio – home to the city of Cleveland - to remain open until 9 p.m. The order came after Barack Obama’s presidential campaign filed suit has asking that voting be extended there and in Franklin County, home to the city of Columbus.
Obama spokesman Bill Burton said, “Due to reports of ballot shortages in Cuyahoga and Franklin counties, we requested a voting extension in those counties. We received reports of numerous precincts that had outstanding requests into the Board of Elections for ballots. We are working to ensure that every Ohioan who wishes to cast a ballot today may do so.”
Officials are now in the process of deciding which polling places will remain open. The Franklin County public information officer said polls in his county closed on time.
Updated 9:05 p.m. to reflect polls closed on time in Franklin County
–CNN’s Mark Preston and Jim Acosta
The victory technically gives the Arizona senator more than the required number of delegates to claim the GOP presidential nomination.
The Democratic races in Rhode Island and Texas remain competitive.
CNN's Dana Bash reports that if John McCain surpasses the 1,191-delegate mark this evening - the number required to claim the GOP nomination - President Bush may officially endorse his presidential bid as soon as tomorrow.
A second GOP source familiar with these plans tells CNN McCain will go to the White House for the endorsement.
(CNN) - There were concerns that Republican voters would participate in large numbers in the Democratic primaries in Ohio and Texas Tuesday and cause mischief, following a call by Rush Limbaugh for listeners to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Early exit polling shows 10 percent of the voters in Ohio's Democratic Primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 22 percent who said they were independents. It was the same story in Texas: 10 percent of the voters in the Democratic primary identified themselves as Republican, along with 25 percent who said they were independents.
–CNN's Joe Van Kanel
(CNN) – On a conference call with reporters earlier today, the Clinton campaign said they believed they finished strong ahead of the Texas and Ohio primaries.
According to the Ohio and Texas exit polls at least, they're right. Clinton holds roughly a 10-point advantage over Obama among those in Ohio who decided who to vote for in the last three days. Among those voters who decided before that, Clinton and Obama are split.
In Texas, Clinton holds even a larger advantage among late deciders. Those who decided in the last three days went for her by 23 points over Obama, 61 percent to 38 percent.
What happened in recent days? Clinton had a strong debate performances in both Texas and Ohio on Thursday, she appeared on Saturday Night Live over the weekend and The Daily Show Monday night, she launched her now famous 3 a.m. ad, and she hit Obama hard over an adviser's conversation with a Canadian official on NAFTA.
–CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
(CNN) - Early exit polls indicate a distinct "age gap" in the two biggest states holding Democratic primaries today: Sen. Barack Obama appeals most strongly to younger voters, while older voters favor Sen. Hillary Clinton.
Among Ohio Democratic primary voters aged 17 to 29, 67 percent went for Obama, 32 percent for Clinton. Among those aged 60 and older, Clinton leads Obama 67 to 31 percent.
The same pattern holds true in early exit polling from the Texas Democratic primary: Among voters aged 18-29, Obama leads Clinton 61 to 39 percent. Among voters age 60 and older, Clinton leads Obama 63 to 36 percent.
–CNN’s Joe Van Kanel
(CNN) - Education level remains one of the biggest dividing lines in the Democratic race, and is clearly playing a role in the Ohio primary tonight.
Among those who reported that they attended college, Obama bested Clinton by 7 points. But among those voters who did not go to college, Clinton holds the clear advantage over the Illinois senator, 62-37 percent.
Blue collar voters have long constituted the core of Clinton's base and - in Ohio at least - they are sticking with the New York senator.
–CNN Senior Political Analyst Bill Schneider
From CNN Politics
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