Clinton, Sanders to return to Chicago on Monday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- One day ahead of the Illinois primary, both Democratic candidates are scheduled to return to Chicago on Monday.

Clinton, a native of suburban Park Ridge, will hold a public event Monday morning at the Plumber's JAC Local Union 130 UA in Chicago to talk about job creation. Sanders is scheduled to be in four states on Monday, ending the day at an event at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

The race between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders is close, with the gap closing in recent days. Clinton leads in a new poll released on Sunday, with 51 percent of likely Illinois voters. Sanders is close behind with 45 percent.

While much attention has been given to Tuesday primaries in states with winner-take-all delegates, such as Ohio and Florida, Illinois also plays an important role in the trajectory of the race.

"Bernie Sanders is going to be in this to stay if he does well on Tuesday," said Laura Washigton, an ABC7 political analyst. "He came out of Michigan with a lot of momentum. If he can do well in some of these Midwestern states, he's going to be hard to put down and she's had a lot of trouble putting him down."

Both candidates appeared in a town hall meeting in Ohio.

On Sunday, former President Bill Clinton campaigned in Chicago for his wife at St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church on the city's South Side. Sanders campaigned in St. Louis on Sunday, joined by actor Danny DeVito.

On the Republican side, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and Florida Senator Marco Rubio are focused on winning their home states, while Donald Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz have been more closely vying for Illinois.

Trump has been leading in the polls here, but some question whether Trump's aborted rally in Chicago on Friday and the ensuing protests may have an impact on voters.

"In the Republican contest people have often decided late and the people who decide late decide against Trump, so it will be interesting to see if this violence has an impact," Washington said.