CHICAGO (AP) – Thousands of voters headed to the polls in Illinois Tuesday, braving chilly and damp weather for a chance to decide a historic showdown between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, two Democratic presidential contenders with strong ties to the state.

Experts said the high-profile contest to decide who could become the first black or woman president, along with a host of other races, would likely lure a larger-than-usual flock of voters.

Also drawing attention was the GOP race that focused on Arizona Sen. John McCain, coming off a strong victory in Florida, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, though other candidates remained, including Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor.

Dan White, executive director of the Illinois State Board of Elections, said no major problems had been reported across the state by midmorning

In Chicago, officials said the morning began reasonably well with 2,570 precincts opening on time. Eight others in the city had minor problems and a ninth was expected to stay open for several extra hours after misplaced voting equipment caused a nearly two-hour delay in opening the polls.

And officials said turnout was steady in Cook County.

“We have been pleased with the way things have gone so far,” said Gail Siegel, a spokeswoman for the Cook County clerk.

But predicted daylong showers — including severe weather forecasts in some portions of the state — along with evening snowfall expected in the vote-rich Chicago area, could dampen the enthusiasm for some of Illinois’ 7.1 million voters.

Rain was already falling Tuesday morning in far-southern Illinois. A storm system was expected to cross the Mississippi River into Illinois by early afternoon, bringing with it rain and as much as a foot of snow in the far-northern regions of the state. Meanwhile, thunderstorms and the threat of tornadoes also loomed in some areas.

Illinois traditionally holds its primary in mid-March, when results in early states have often already assured who the nominees will be.

This year, though, state lawmakers moved the primary up to give Obama, Illinois’ freshman Democratic senator a boost over Clinton, the New York senator who grew up in the Chicago suburb of Park Ridge.

At Obama’s polling place, Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School on Chicago’s South Side, the candidate and his wife, Michelle, were greeted by loud applause and cheers from several dozen supporters Tuesday afternoon. Obama shook hands with the crowd and shouted, “Are you fired up? Are you ready to go?”

Before entering the school to vote, the pair stopped at a hand-drawn sign taped to a classroom window. The sign proclaimed: “Shoesmith School and Room 100 (Heart) Barack Obama.”

The Obamas waved at the children, who shouted from their classroom.

“It feels great to be home,” Obama said as he walked into the polling place

About 15 miles northwest of Chicago in the suburban community of Park Ridge, voters trickled into a polling place at Eugene Field School, the same school where Clinton attended as an elementary student.

Debbie Kelly, 41-year-old a self-employed contractor, said she planned to vote for Clinton.

“I would love to see a woman in office,” she said. “Other countries have done it and I think it’s time for the U.S.”

Inside the school’s library, an autographed picture donated by Clinton during a visit in 1997 read: “Best wishes to everyone at Field, from a 6th grade friend.”

McCain may have benefited from crossover voting. Steve Greenberg of Grayslake, is a registered Democrat who couldn’t decide between the top two candidates on that slate and thought his vote would be more valuable on the Republican side anyway in the primary.

“I like both Hillary and Obama,” said Greenberg, 39. “I went with McCain because if the Democrats lost, I’d be more comfortable with him.”

Others said they were keeping their Republican allegiance.

Missy Meyer, a 40-year-old stay-at-home mother from Park Ridge voted for Romney.

“I look at the candidates’ values. He’s more conservative,” she said, adding Romney’s anti-abortion stance was important to her.

In the St. Louis suburb of Columbia, a steady stream of voters filled the Turner Hall community center, despite chilly drizzle.

John Topliffe, a 60-year-old retired Air Force pilot who described himself as generally Republican-leaning, said he voted for Obama, likening him to a previous Democratic president.

“I put him with John Kennedy. I think he’s got the same intelligence, the same charisma,” Topliffe said. “I think he’d be a good president.”

At stake in Illinois were 153 convention delegates for Democrats and 57 for Republicans.

Obama planned to hold an evening celebration at the Hyatt Regency. Clinton had no plans to be in Illinois.

William Howard, a 62-year-old retired voter from Chicago, said he liked both Democratic candidates, but found Obama more inspirational than Clinton, whom he said reflected the status quo.

“He’s for a change. And I’m just basically dissatisfied with Washington, D.C., and the way things are,” Howard said. “I can live with Clinton, but I think Obama has a little bit of an edge.”

In recent presidential primary years, Illinois has had a voter turnout slightly under 30 percent. But other important races could add to the tally.

They included congressional seats being vacated by the retirements of Republicans Dennis Hastert of Plano, Ray LaHood of Peoria and Jerry Weller of Morris.

Democrats had some key primaries as well, including a field of candidates running against Rep. Dan Lipinski of Western Springs.

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Associated Press writers Dave Carpenter in Grayslake, Dennis Conrad in Chicago, Jim Suhr in Columbia and Sophia Tareen in Park Ridge contributed to this report.