SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Senate canceled its business scheduled for Tuesday, freeing up time for some senators to hit the campaign trail.

Tuesday's primaries in Ohio and Texas are viewed as critical for Democrats. It may help New York Sen. Hillary Clinton curb Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's 11-state win streak, or it may help Obama maintain his frontrunner momentum.

State Sen. Gary Forby, D-Benton, is among a handful of state senators planning to head to Ohio to help Obama's campaign.

Forby said he can't stay until Tuesday because of previous commitments. And he said he didn't know if state business scheduled for Tuesday was put on hold for campaign reasons.

"I have a feeling that could have something to do with it," Forby said from the road on his way to Cincinnati.

A spokeswoman for Senate President Emil Jones, who sets the Senate's schedule, wasn't available for comment Friday. A spokeswoman for Obama's campaign said Jones plans to make the trip.

State Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline, said he was asked to go and plans to stay in Ohio through Tuesday's election. He said the Senate's work wasn't put on hold for the primary campaign.

"I'm going to work hard for Barack," Jacobs said. "It's important that we go to these places."

State Sen. Debbie Halvorson, D-Crete, won't be heading to Ohio to campaign. She's running to replace U.S. Rep. Jerry Weller in Congress, and Halvorson's spokesman said she'd be concentrating on her own effort.

"We've got our own race," Halvorson campaign manager Brian Doory said.

Lawmakers have just begun talks about the state budget that's expected to be completed by the end of May. Last year, lawmakers' spring session lasted well past then.

But legislative sessions in campaign years are typically shorter, giving lawmakers time to hit the campaign trail for their own re-election efforts.

So Forby says losing one day of work on Tuesday is no big deal.

"We should have a short year anyway," he said.