HOUSTON -- The Texas primary results will play a pivotal role in deciding who will be a party's nominee for president, KPRC Local 2 reported Tuesday.

Texans didn't wait until Election Day to head to the polls in large numbers. An estimated 2 million people showed up during two weeks of early voting -- about 60 percent of the overall number state officials expected to vote in both party primaries -- and they overwhelmingly cast ballots in Democratic races.

"The eyes of the nation will be on the Democratic primary in Texas, as we cast votes and attend precinct conventions that could determine who will be the next president of the United States," said state party chairman Boyd Richie.

The race for the Democratic nomination is tight. Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama are fighting for Texas' 228 delegates. Obama has won 11 straight victories over Clinton.

Clinton banked on heavy support in predominantly Hispanic South Texas, while Obama looked to benefit from black voters in urban Houston and Dallas. But both candidates and their spouses and other surrogates hit all parts of the state.

Obama stopped by the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Tuesday after holding a rally with thousands of Houston supporters on Monday.

"I hope we do well, but we've got to work hard," he said. "People all across the country have talked to me about the tough times they're going through on critical issues like home foreclosures, issues like plants moving overseas and losing their jobs. People are concerned about health care and making college more affordable. And, so, we've been putting forward very specific plans to make sure that those issues are dealt with."

Clinton continued campaigning in Houston on Tuesday morning when she stopped by J.P. Henderson Elementary School in southeast Houston, which was serving as a polling place.

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"We're urging people to remember that this is a two-step process," she said. "Please go back to your polling place and participate in the precinct convention."

Clinton remained confident despite polls showing the race was too close to call.

"I think there's going to be a tremendous turnout across Texas today. And I’m thrilled at what's happening here in this campaign, what's happening in Ohio. It just feels really good," Clinton said. "This is an invigorating campaign and is just hitting its stride."

Texas is unique as it is the only state that awards its Democratic delegates by ballot and caucus. Ballot votes will determine who wins 126 of the delegates. The caucus will award 67 delegates while the 35 more are unpledged delegates, including 32 superdelegates.

Caucus voting is open to anyone who voted in the Democratic primary. A voter registration card with a Democratic stamp or an access number used to cast their ballot, in addition to a Texas driver's license, is required. Caucus participants must go to their designated precinct at 7:15 p.m.

Clinton goes into Tuesday with 1,267 delegates -- 1,031 pledged and 236 superdelegates -- compared to Obama's 1,369 delegates -- 1,184 pledged and 185 superdelegates. A candidate needs 2,025 delegates to win the party's nomination.

Clinton was in Columbus, Ohio, to watch the returns while Obama was in San Antonio.

Republicans John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul campaigned in the state, too, though most voter interest was geared toward the closer Democratic presidential contest. Texas will send 140 delegates to the national GOP convention, almost all awarded based on the primary vote.

McCain would get within 21 delegates of the 1,191 needed to clinch the Republican nomination if he wins in Texas, which has 137 delegates. McCain needs 158 delegates to become the winner.

McCain held a rally with Houston supporters at Goode's Armadillo Palace on Kirby Drive at lunchtime.

He focused on his Democratic opponents.

"Health care in America will be when the Democrats tell you that it's free," McCain said.

He then headed to Dallas' historic Fairmont Hotel afterward to watch the election returns.

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Huckabee remains hundreds of delegates behind McCain with 247 delegates. He traveled to Irving to watch the returns.

"I think there's enormous energy in our campaign and people who are with us know why they are. They are not just pushing the default button on the Republican lever. They understand what their principals are," Huckabee said.

Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont also held primaries on Tuesday.

Local Seats Up For Grabs

Several local, county and state races were also on the primary ballot.

The Republican race for Harris County District Attorney is one of the most high profile. District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal recently resigned from the office amid an e-mail scandal.

Assistant District Attorney Kelly Siegler, Doug Perry, Pat Lykos and Jim Leitner are all vying for the seat. Former Houston Police Chief Clarence Bradford is running unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

Michael F. Plagens and Paul Day hope to oust Republican incumbent Sheriff Tommy Thomas. Houston city councilman Adrian Garcia, Charles Massey El and Guy Robert Clark are battling for the Democratic nomination.

Republicans hope to reclaim the United States House of Representatives seat vacated two years ago by Tom DeLay. Shelley Sekula Gibbs, who filled in after DeLay's departure, hopes to get the seat for good. She ran a write-in campaign against Democrat Nick Lampson, who won the seat, as it was too late for her to get on the ballot. Kevyn Bazzy, Cynthia Dunbar, Dean Hrbacek, Brian Klock, John Manlove, Pete Olson, Ryan Rowley, Jim Squier and Robert Talton are also on the Republican ballot. Lampson is running unopposed on the Democratic ballot.

Ed Emmett hopes to remain Harris County Judge, but this time he will have to get the seat by election. Emmett got the job after Judge Robert Eckles was re-elected and shortly thereafter resigned to take a job in the private sector. He is running on the Republican ballot against Harris County District Clerk Charles Bacarisse. Davis Mincberg and Amad R. Hassan are challenging each other on the Democratic ballot.