Super Tuesday could see clear frontrunners emerge

Washington, Feb 4 : The frontrunners in the US presidential polls are expected to emerge after wide-scale voting on Tuesday. While the Democratic race has two equally matched rivals, Hillary Clinton, the New York Senator, and Barack Obama, the Illinois Senator; Republican John McCain is well ahead of all his rivals.

Voters in a total of 24 US States and American Samoa, as well as Democrats around the globe, will cast ballots on Tuesday. They will take part in primaries, caucuses, a State party convention and even Internet voting by Democrats living overseas.

Meanwhile, US presidential rivals are making a frantic push to woo voters before key "Super Tuesday" polls.

On Sunday talk shows, Clinton charged that her rival, Obama was not prepared to face Republican attacks.

Republican McCain defended his conservative credentials against challenger former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney.

Some polls have suggested that the Democratic Party race is getting closer.

A national poll for the Washington Post and ABC showed Clinton's lead over Obama had narrowed to four percent, while other polls showed the two neck and neck in the key state of California.

The same national poll showed McCain well ahead of all his rivals, including Romney and former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.

In all, Democrats have primaries in 15 States and caucuses in seven States and American Samoa on Tuesday, with 1,681 delegates at stake. epublicans will hold 15 primaries, five caucuses and one State convention, and pick 1,023 delegates. The goal in primaries and caucuses is to win delegates to the parties' national conventions this summer. A total of 2,025 delegates are needed to secure the Democratic nomination; 1,191 are needed for the Republican nomination.

ANI