Candidates race against Super Tuesday clock

By Ellen Wulfhorst

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama took their neck-and-neck battle to the U.S. West on Saturday while John McCain projected an air of inevitability about winning the Republican nomination ahead of crucial Super Tuesday voting.

Candidates criss-crossed the country to woo voters in the countdown toward the multi-state primaries and caucuses on February 5 that will go a long way toward establishing clear front-runners in both political parties.

Campaigning in Nashville, Tennessee, McCain told supporters he did not want to appear overconfident but was "guardedly optimistic" about Tuesday's voting.

"I assume I will be the nominee of the party," he said.

Later in Birmingham, Alabama, he said, "We sense some good momentum and we're going to be working hard between now and Tuesday."

Asked if he was concerned that some conservatives oppose him, McCain said he had won Florida's primary when only registered Republicans could vote.

"Most of all I can unite the party," he said. "I'm the most electable -- any poll will show you that -- against Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton."

Leading in the polls in major states to vote on Tuesday like California, New York and New Jersey, the Arizona senator was stopping in the capitals of Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia to argue his case.