INDIANAPOLIS -- Sen. Barack Obama predicted a close outcome in the critical Indiana primary as he and Sen. Hillary Clinton on Monday made their final, frantic pitches in Indiana and North Carolina.

"This is going to be a tight race," Obama said, while meeting union workers in Evansville. "Every poll shows a dead heat."

Tuesday's Democratic presidential primaries in Indiana and North Carolina will serve as something of a referendum on just how much Obama has been hurt by recent controversy over statements and appearances by his longtime pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright Jr.

Wright's comments have received extensive coverage within the Chicago media market, which covers 20 percent of Indiana's expected Democratic vote, so extra attention will be paid to the outcome in northwest Indiana.

Clinton's campaign has suggested the Wright controversy makes a weaker general election candidate out of Obama, who has responded by downsizing his events in recent days and playing basketball across Indiana.

The two contests appear to be the closest since those held two months ago in Texas and Ohio and are vital in Clinton's efforts to keep her presidential bid, lagging in money and elected delegates, alive.

On the airwaves and at rallies, the candidates and their surrogates continued their fight over the merits of a proposal for a federal gas tax holiday this summer, the signature issue during the past week of the nomination brawl.

By John McCormick and Rick Pearson, Chicago Tribune, May 6, 2008