It will be a tight race between democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama and old Republican warhorse John McCain as the presidential hopefuls made a frantic push to woo voters ahead of the crucial 'Super Tuesday' showdown in 24 state primaries.

Obama, bouyed by the South Carolina victory, is looking to close the gap with Clinton in the Tuesday poll in 22 states with more than 1,600 delegates at stake.

Admitting that Clinton was a 'favourite' and he the 'underdog,' Obama unleashed star campaigners Senator Edward Kennedy, influential brother of former US President John F Kennedy, the slain leader's daughter Caroline and talk show host Oprah Winfrey to convince undecided voters.

"I am here today to ask the people of New Jersey to cast votes for Barack Obama as they cast for John Kennedy and Robert Kennedy," Ted Kennedy said.

With their competing themes of 'experience vs. change' dividing the Democrats, ABC News/Washington Post poll says the 60-year-old former first lady has 47 per cent support against Obama's 43 per cent. Supporters of the now-withdrawn John Edwards appear to have been shared evenly by the two leaders who have accused each other of leading a divisive campaign.

Image: US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama with Edward Kennedy during a rally in East Rutherford, New Jersey, February 4, 2008.
Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

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