Healthcare issues remain at the forefront as presidential hopefuls face primaries today in Ohio, Texas, Rhode Island and Vermont.
At stake are 176 delegates in Texas and Ohio, vital to both Democratic frontrunners. Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) currently leads with 1,202 delegates and has won the last 11 straight primary and caucus contests. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) trails with 1,042 delegates.
The most recent Gallup voter poll shows a 5 percent lead in Democrat and Democrat-leaning voters for Obama over Clinton.
Healthcare, however, remains the constant in this campaign, with the Democratic candidates most vocal on the issue and with similar platforms for reform. Obama and Clinton came out early with healthcare plans, both of which contain plans for universal healthcare. What seems to be the sticking point for many is the question of whether to mandate healthcare insurance, as Clinton proposes, or provide affordable healthcare for all and let the market do the rest, as Obama suggests.
Obama's stance is if the care is affordable, everyone will want it. He also questions how the mandate can be enforced, especially in poorer populations. Clinton claims universal care will not be effective without the mandate.
As part of their healthcare platforms, both Democratic candidates acknowledge healthcare IT as a major source for preventing medical errors and driving down costs. Clinton, particularly, has championed healthcare IT throughout her campaign.
On the Republican side, Gallup projects Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) to have 64 percent of the national Republican vote, outpacing his leading rival, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
McCain is calling for changes to the tax code to eliminate what he calls the bias toward employer-sponsored health insurance. He aims to provide all individuals with a $2,500 tax credit as an incentive to increase insurance coverage.
Current general election polls show Clinton less likely to win over Obama in facing McCain. Yet all in all, the undecided vote still remains a key and yet unpredictable aspect of this election.