GALVESTON, Texas -- Winning the Texas primary is crucial to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's bid to become the next president of the United States, according to former President Bill Clinton while visiting Houston, KPRC Local 2 reported.

"This whole nominating process comes down to Texas and Ohio," Clinton said. "If she wins in Texas and in Ohio, she will win in Pennsylvania. I believe she will win the nomination. It is up to you in Texas, if you will help her."

Clinton urged the Galveston crowd to vote early and touted his wife as the clear choice over Sen. Barack Obama.

"You have to decide what you think is more important," he said. "I think that good solutions are more important than good speeches. I think the fact of change is more important than the feeling of change. You have to decide if you agree."

That was enough to convince at least one undecided voter in the crowd.

"I was rather undecided between (Hillary Clinton) or Barack Obama, but being the Democrat that I am, I believe what he said and her experience. I believe Hillary would be a better choice for us," voter Donald Armstrong said.

The former president spoke briefly, shook hands and signed autographs. Reporters were kept well back. There were no opportunities to ask Bill Clinton about how his wife plans to prevail in Texas after 10 straight primary losses to Obama.

The bad news that has followed Hillary Clinton's campaign has not fazed her supporters in Galveston.

"I was so excited today because Obama's got the talk, but Hillary has got the experience, she's got the knowledge, she has got the wherewithal to pull this country back in shape and do with it what we've got to do," supporter Chris Reeder said.

Clinton attended events in Beaumont, Texas, and Victoria, Texas, before returning to Houston for an evening rally at the University of Houston.

Hillary Clinton made appearances in Brownsville, Texas, and Hidalgo, Texas, on Wednesday while her daughter, Chelsea, campaigned in north Texas.

Clinton and Obama will face off in a debate in Austin on Thursday night.

The event is drawing attention from around the world.

There are about 3,000 seats available for the debate. The Texas Democratic party had 200 tickets to give away and held a lottery online. Officials received more than 46,000 requests for tickets.

MSNBC reports that Obama has 1,168 delegates while Clinton has 1,018. Texas carries 228 delegates.

More than 17,000 people attended a rally for Obama at Houston's Toyota Center on Tuesday night.

Early voting began Tuesday and continues until Feb. 29. The Texas primary will be held on March 4.