US voters' views: Indiana, North Carolina

As the hotly contested battle for the Democratic nomination in the US presidential election progresses, we are asking BBC News website readers from key primary states to share their opinions and views.

Here, Democratic voters from Indiana and North Carolina reveal who they will vote for in their states' primaries on Tuesday and debate who they think will win the tightest of races for their party's nomination.

Diane Singleton, Bloomington, Indiana "I voted early for Senator Obama last Thursday. I hope he can win both states. I'll be very worried for his chances if he doesn't" Eric Gonzaba, Corydon, Indiana "Even though many of my friends are in the Obama Camp, I feel Clinton is more experienced and ready to take on the challenges once in office" Mary O' Shannon, Asheville, North Carolina "Obama is still ahead in delegates and will remain in the lead unless Hillary can win with landslides here and in Indiana, which would be a shock" Keith Braswell, Wilkesboro, North Carolina "If Hillary wins in North Carolina she has a good chance of securing the nomination, given that this would be considered an upset"

I have already voted for Senator Obama in early polling last Thursday.

There were big crowds at the town hall and I had to wait a half an hour.

The atmosphere here is electric ahead of this year's primary.

It's the most interesting and exciting primary I can remember in Indiana and it's the first election in my lifetime in which our state has been a determining factor in the primary season.

I attended Senator Obama's rally at the local university last Wednesday. There were 13,000 there, including women of all ages, who have come out in their numbers in this state to support him.

I hope the recent controversy over Reverend Wright doesn't have any effect on how people vote.

My husband is African-American and we both feel Reverend Wright has some valid points, but his timing is wrong in opening up this can of worms right now. It's a distraction but I don't think it will change the minds of many voters.

Initially, I wasn't sure who I would vote for, but I decided that the Clintons have had their day.

Obama is a unifier, he has no baggage and he offers a fresh vision for America. He reminds me of my son, who is tall and of mixed race, so there is also personal element for me.

Indiana is a hard state to read so it's hard to predict. There are many rural voters who may vote in a similar way to Pennsylvania.

I hope he can win both states on Tuesday. I'll be very worried for his chances if he doesn't. I think it would be very bad for the party if it came down to the two fighting it out at the convention.

After all, I never even heard of super delegates before this year, so I do not want them to have the final say.

This election is a landmark one for Indiana and has great meaning to me personally.

As a first-time voter, I find it very exciting to have the opportunity to choose between two such diverse Democratic candidates.

Indiana's late primary date had initially seemed to make it insignificant in the primary race.

But with this nail-biting Democratic race continuing, it is great to be able to have a key role in deciding who will get the nomination.

The troubling economy seems to be the main focus for many Indiana voters.

Even for younger voters like myself, the rising price of fuel and food is becoming very worrying.

I hope to see this election come down to policy issues regarding the economy, the Iraq war, and healthcare and hope neither candidate tries to divert attention onto "social issues", as Bush did in 2004.

As a result, I will vote for Hillary Clinton on Tuesday.

Even though many of my friends are in the Obama Camp, I feel Clinton is more experienced and ready to take on the challenges once in office in 2009.

With the possibility of more vacancies to come in the Supreme Court to over the next four years, I would like to see a candidate committed to the protection of civil liberties and a progressive society.

Also, with a looming recession and the disastrous handling of the war on terror, I think the only logical choice is Hillary on Tuesday and in November.

I voted early for Obama, just as I planned to do from the start of this campaign.

In spite of his former pastor trying to ruin his chances I think he still stands a good chance of being elected president.

There may be some fallout from the controversy, but I think the only ones who would change their votes because of it would be voters who haven't looked at the bigger issues of Obama's campaign.

When this issue originally came to light, he took a very diplomatic stance and showed he has the ability to do so.

I hope people can continue to focus their attention on who he is and what he can do for this country rather than continue to be distracted by the circus attraction that Jeremiah Wright has orchestrated for the sake of his own ego.

Obama is still the candidate who has what it takes to become a unifying force in the United States and throughout the world.

Hillary Clinton's comments on the other hand have been provocative.

I would hope that voters can see that her comment about "obliterating" Iran, for example, is exactly the kind of talk we want to get away from after the chaotic mess of the current administration.

I hope he can win both primaries on Tuesday. He is still ahead in the delegate count and will remain in the lead unless she can win with big landslides here and in Indiana, which would be a real shock.

I intend to vote for Hillary Clinton.

The most important issue for me is the rapidly escalating cost of healthcare in America.

Clinton's plan mandates universal healthcare coverage while Senator Obama's plan would ultimately leave several million uninsured.

Given that I am somewhat of a political cynic, Clinton appears to me to be the more level-headed and pragmatic of the two Democratic candidates.

Given also the challenges of a spluttering economy, the rising power of China, and the Iraq debacle, I would prefer to put my trust in a realist rather than an idealist.

As regards foreign policy, I view Clinton as someone who will rehabilitate America's reputation abroad.

At the same time, she assuredly is tough enough to deal with any international crisis which might occur.

I see the race going all the way to the Democratic Convention, unless Clinton loses in both North Carolina and Indiana.

If she wins in North Carolina - which is now a real possibility - she has a reasonably good chance of securing the nomination, given that this would be considered an upset.

Undoubtedly, the controversy involving Obama's former pastor, the Reverend Wright, has bolstered Clinton's chances in this state.

The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section of people as possible and may not be representative of wider US public opinion.

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