Next month's primary in the state is seen as crucial for both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Mr Obama is now the favourite for the party's nomination, and he gained even more momentum by winning the Democrats Abroad primary on Thursday.

The Texas debate is a major test for the flagging Clinton campaign, coming after 11 consecutive poll defeats.

Along with Ohio, Texas votes on 4 March, in a contest that is widely being seen as a must-win for the former first lady.

She has not won a nominating contest in more than two weeks.

Call for change

Mrs Clinton opened Thursday night's debate at the University of Texas in Austin by saying it was up to those voting in forthcoming state primaries to decide the outcome.

"If you'll be part of this campaign - which is really your campaign, about your futures, your families, your jobs and your health care - we'll continue to make a difference for America," said Mrs Clinton.

Mr Obama, for his part, reiterated his call for change.

"Washington has become a place where good ideas go to die, because too many politicians are interested in scoring points rather than bridging their differences to get things done," said the Illinois senator.

The Texas debate is the first of two to be held ahead of 4 March primaries in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

In previous televised debates, Mrs Clinton has attempted to outweigh Mr Obama's rhetoric with her grasp of policy issues.

But Mr Obama has brushed off criticism that he lacks substance.

Union backing

Mrs Clinton now needs a majority of the remaining delegates to beat Mr Obama.

He has at least 1,353 - according to an Associated Press projection - of the 2,025 delegates he needs to secure the Democratic nomination at the party's convention in August.

Mrs Clinton has 1,264 delegates.

Correspondents say the blue-collar vote will be crucial in the Ohio and Texas contests, and the Clinton campaign has already begun targeting lower-income workers in its ads.

But in his drive to become the first black US president, Mr Obama has recently gained support from some powerful unions, including the Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union.

Are you in next month's key primary states of Ohio or Texas? How do you intend to vote? How crucial do you think those primaries are in this election race? Send us your comments using the form below.

(BBC)

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