Top supporters of Senator Barack Obama, joined by at least one prominent but uncommitted Democrat, raised the pressure Sunday on Senator Hillary Clinton to bow out of the presidential nominating race if she fails to score clear victories in two big-state primary contests Tuesday.
"I just think that D-Day is Tuesday," said Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico, a former Democratic presidential hopeful who has yet to throw his weight behind either leading candidate. He said the increasingly negative campaign advertisements aired by both Democrats made it more urgent that the party unite quickly behind a nominee.
Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont hold primary contests on Tuesday, and the Clinton campaign, trailing in the delegates needed for nomination and having lost 11 straight contests, has said the New York senator needs to win either Texas or Ohio. Both candidates were campaigning Sunday in Ohio.
