The Trail Less Traveled

"The only change I've seen is for the worse," said 34-year-old Steve Georgalas, a co-owner of Blue Ribbon Rentals, one of the few remaining businesses open on this side of town.

"I'll be voting for Hillary," said Georgalas, who recounted watching all those businesses close. "She seems to care more about the workers."

His sentiments were echoed by Blake Drennen, 25, who is an information technology specialist for a savings and loan company in economically struggling Youngstown, 18 miles away.

"Hillary can help us," said Drennen, who worries about the hardship his employer faces amid business closings and home foreclosures in a city near the Pennsylvania border.

The Ohio primary, and an equally important Texas contest today, could propel Obama to the Democratic nomination and a place in history as the first African-American nominee of a major political party. But if Clinton captures both states, she will have bounced off the political ropes to stand toe-to-toe with Obama for the first time since the Feb. 5 "Super Tuesday" primaries.

Though she has led by small margins in most recent polling in Ohio, Clinton is by no means assured of victory here. Obama has made a huge push in this state with in an expensive advertising campaign aimed at undermining Clinton's support among working-class voters by tying her to the North American Free Trade Agreement, a pact her husband, President Bill Clinton, pushed through Congress nearly 15 years ago after it had been negotiated by President George H.W. Bush.

"NAFTA's going to play a part in this election, and I think people have memories of Bill Clinton's support and obviously that will be translated to his wife," said Chris Litton, 39, a political independent who lobbies the federal government for the regional Chamber of Commerce.

Many voters in Ohio blame NAFTA for the loss of manufacturing jobs, and Obama's rally in the polls from trailing by double-digits just a few weeks ago is certainly due in part to his criticism of the trade deal.

But trade and the economy can be nuanced issues even among voters in the downtrodden region around Youngstown and Warren.

Georgalas and Drennen both said Bill Clinton's presidency was good for the economy overall.

Obama's Appeal

To be sure, Obama's mantra of hope and change is reaching some voters in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, which are home to Warren and Youngstown.

Given his overwhelming support in the African-American community in previous primaries, Obama appears likely to win within the city limits of Youngstown, where 44 percent of the 79,000 residents are black.

Doranna Speed wore two Obama pins as she made her way into the campaign's Youngstown office to lend a hand late Monday afternoon.

She is African American, but she is quick to volunteer that that is not why she is voting for Obama, adding "I hope it's not anyone else's reason."

Instead, she said, "We need some fresh blood."

The View From Cleveland

In Cleveland, the state's biggest Democratic bastion, Marlene Perkins, 49, said she made up her mind Sunday after a visit from an Obama campaign volunteer.

"We talked about Obama's vision for the country," she said, noting that the personal touch "made a difference."

But that doesn't mean she believes Obama will emerge victorious today.

"I really think that Hillary is going to take it in Ohio," she said.

Clinton will do well if voters follow the path of Joseph Del Medico, 34, who cast an early ballot for Clinton.

"I think she's a very hard worker," said Del Medico, who named the Iraq war as a top issue.

Though Obama spoke against the war and Clinton voted to authorize it in 2002, Del Medico said he had confidence that Clinton will end it if she wins the presidency.

Most voters expect the Ohio primary to be close.

"It's still up in the air," said Ricardo Springer, 54, the director of a morning news program on a Cleveland television station.

Springer's vote is one that remained uncertain as of Monday.

"It'll be 11th hour for me," he said