Obama, Clinton hit homestretch for nomination

updated 9:09 p.m. ET April 19, 2008

WASHINGTON - Finally for the Democrats, the homestretch.

The last 10 contests of the marathon presidential race could make front-runner Barack Obama the party's nominee or breathe new life into Hillary Rodham Clinton's candidacy. It starts Tuesday.

Leading in the popular vote, the number of states won and pledged delegates, Obama had hoped to wrap up the nomination earlier in the spring to begin the general election campaign against Republican Sen. John McCain. But Clinton won the last major primaries in Ohio and Texas March 4 and has vowed to stay in until the party's convention this August in Denver.

Since neither candidate will finish with enough delegates to clinch the nomination, both candidates are wooing "superdelegates" — elected officials and party activists who may back any candidate they wish.

Obama is counting on superdelegates to back the winner of the popular vote and pledged delegate count, a notion even some Clinton supporters agree with. He also figures prominent Democrats would be loath to deny the nomination to a black man who leads in delegates and votes. Clinton is hoping to close the gap with Obama in the final contests and persuade superdelegates that she would be the stronger general election candidate against McCain.

Here's a look at the final 10 contests:

Pennsylvania, Tuesday
The largest of the remaining states, Pennsylvania on Tuesday appears tailor-made for Clinton even as polls show her once commanding lead narrowing to single digits. Most analysts predict a win for the former first lady; a loss would effectively doom her candidacy. Even a narrow Clinton victory would be viewed as a tactical triumph for Obama.

While Pennsylvania's economy may not be as fragile as that of neighboring Ohio, which Clinton won by 9 percentage points, the state has seen a similar erosion of its manufacturing base and a loss of thousands of blue-collar jobs.

Pennsylvania also has a large white, working-class population and other groups that Clinton has attracted. It has the third oldest population of any state and is home to a significant number of ethnic Catholic voters. The state's politically savvy governor, Ed Rendell, backs Clinton.

Obama is competing in Pennsylvania and was on a five-day bus and train tour of the state. He has 30 field offices to Clinton's 24 and has outspent her more than 2-to-1 on television advertising.

The New York senator is hoping Obama's comments about bitter voters in small town will undercut his support.

Geographically, Clinton is strongest in western Pennsylvania including the Pittsburgh area, Johnstown and Erie, and in northeastern communities like Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and Carbondale. Obama's base is in Philadelphia, with its large population of blacks, affluent voters and students. He also performs well in Harrisburg, the state capital.

Both campaigns view the northern and southern Philadelphia suburbs and the Lehigh Valley as key battleground areas.

Only registered Democrats can vote in the primary.

Guam, May 3
Neither campaign has expended loads of effort on the tiny Pacific island, but the Obama campaign has deployed three staff members there and the Clinton camp has been organizing under the leadership of a popular Guam state senator, Tina Muna Barnes.

North Carolina, May 6
With its large population of black voters and well-populated liberal enclaves, Obama is heavily favored to win North Carolina. Recent polling shows him with a double-digit lead over Clinton, and both candidates vying for the state's Democratic gubernatorial nomination have endorsed the Illinois senator.

Video Clinton turns up the heat April 19: On the same day her campaign acknowledges her lead in Pennsylvania has all but evaporated, Hillary Clinton questions if Barack Obama is up to winning the White House. NBC's Ron Allen reports. Nightly News

Former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, who also sought the nomination, has declined both candidates' endorsement requests. He's kept a low profile since leaving the race, and it's unlikely he will appear with either candidate leading up to the primary.

Obama has been advertising on television in North Carolina since late March. Clinton went up recently with an unconventional one-minute ad in which she invited North Carolinians to submit questions that she would answer in subsequent ads leading up to the primary. More than 10,000 questions have been submitted so far.

Obama is targeting the state's five major urban areas — Charlotte, Durham, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Raleigh, the state capital. Clinton is eyeing the more rural regions of the state and military communities such as Fayetteville.

Unaffiliated voters can vote in either party's contest. The state has heavy early voting that began Thursday.

Indiana, May 6
This is a true Democratic battleground state, with a demographic mix that plays to each candidate's strengths. Recent polling shows a close race.

Indiana shares a border with Obama's home state of Illinois, and he has won every other border state so far. About 20 percent of the state is in the Chicago media market, another plus for Obama. He is strongest in northern Indiana, with its urban pockets and large black population. He also does well in Indianapolis and in Bloomington, home of Indiana University. Clinton is popular farther south, especially among rural voters and in white working-class communities like those along the Ohio River.

Both candidates are airing TV ads and have made repeated trips to the state. Clinton has the support of Evan Bayh, the state's popular senator and former governor.

Indiana has an open primary.

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