Clinton Scrambles to Try to Reverse Obama's Momentum

But others in the party, including some who have been backing Clinton, say Obama's winning streak has raised the stakes considerably. "She absolutely must win both Ohio and Texas to stay alive," one strategist noted. "Most of all, she has to find a way to change the fundamental dynamic of the race."

"She has got to get her voice back," wrote another strategist, who urged the Clinton campaign to recapture what worked in New Hampshire a month ago. "No one can stand hearing or seeing her because she does not sound or look authentic. She's got to show her authentic self. . . . Her problem is enormous, though she can overcome it. She needs to win and she needs a new voice, and she needs to manage her spouse."

Democrats outside the Clinton campaign said she must build her recovery -- particularly in Wisconsin and Ohio -- on white voters who do not have a college degree. These voters stayed largely loyal on Tuesday when other groups were defecting. They went 61 percent to 32 percent for Clinton in Maryland and 57 percent to 42 percent for Clinton in Virginia.

"Non-college whites are the key," one Democratic strategist noted. The other critical constituency, especially in Texas, is the Hispanic community, which she courted at stops Tuesday night and all day yesterday. Penn said Hispanics could make up as much as 40 percent of the Democratic electorate there.

But several strategists said Texas presents some unusual challenges for Clinton, including a complicated formula by which delegates are apportioned that may favor a candidate who pulls more strongly in districts with African American majorities. In addition, Texas apportions delegates on the basis of a primary and caucuses, held on the same day, giving a potential advantage to the well-organized Obama operation.

"Considering Texas, I think she should concentrate all she has on beating expectations in Wisconsin," a veteran strategist said.

Changes at the top of Clinton's staff are likely to generate fresh thinking about how to wage the campaign in the rest of the primaries and caucuses. Williams has begun to reach out beyond the tight inner circle for advice from other Democrats, including several former Clinton White House veterans and media consultant David Doak.

Clinton campaign officials have put new emphasis on building up their field organizations, where Obama has been strong. In a conference call describing the road ahead, Penn, senior adviser Howard Wolfson and field director Guy Cecil said the campaign is opening offices and hiring staffers in all states with remaining contests. States such as Montana and Wyoming will draw new resources from the Clinton team, and even Puerto Rico will be on the map, they said.

"We expect change to begin March 4," Penn said.

Kornblut, traveling with the Clinton campaign, reported from Texas.