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Senator Obama: "No matter what, George Bush's name will not be on the ballot." Photo: B.A. Mulligan
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FORT WORTH, TX -- Repeating a scene played out across Texas in the final push before next week's democratic caucus, Senator Barack Obama's visit here drew a crowd of capacity that began filling the Fort Worth Convention Center three hours before his appearance.

Enjoying a widening lead in Texas over Democratic Party nomination rival Senator Hillary Clinton, according to a poll commissioned by The Houston Chronicle, Reuters, and C-SPAN, Mr. Obama arrived to a deafening sea of supporters that, at times, drowned out his amplified microphone with roars of elation as he made passionate points about healthcare, the high cost of gasoline, and revolutionizing the education system.

According to the poll, Mr. Obama is ahead in both Houston and Dallas--which hold the most significant amount of delegates in the state--with a 60% lead over Mrs. Clinton in both cities.

Responding to criticism about his ability to lead the country among a climate of growing anti-american sentiment abroad, Mr. Obama said--sternly--that he would "not hesitate to strike those who would cause us harm."

Mr. Obama acknowledged his respect and gratitude for Republican front runner Senator John McCain, citing his years of service in the Armed Forces, but starkly illustrated differences between their plans over the War in Iraq, which Mr. Obama has said he opposed from the beginning.

Mr. McCain has said that a United States Military presence in Iraq might continue for "100 years." In response to that comment, Mr. Obama said he would pull out troops and hoped to end a major military presence by 2009. Mr Obama pulled back his shirt cuff and exposed a bracelet, which he said was given to him by the mother of a serviceman that was killed by a roadside bomb.

Almost 4,000 military troops have died in Iraq since the American-led invasion in 2003.

In what some political analysts have said is overly ambitious, Mr. Obama pledged that many of his campaign strongholds would be completed during his first term as President of the United States.

Major security and traffic control measures were implemented in coordination between The Secret Service and the Fort Worth Police Department, with visible presence of magnetic wands and metal detectors at security entrances, and extensive use of bomb sniffing dogs screening the arena and press box.

After his departure, attendees flooded out of the Fort Worth Convention Center into the night, with police directing traffic to alternate routes around thousands of pedestrians.

Texas voters head to the polls and caucus on March 4th.