Washington - Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain could have been left off the presidential ballot in Texas, where state law required parties to deliver written certification of their nominees by 70 days before the November 4 elections.

With unusually late conventions this year, both major-party candidates accepted their nominations only days after Texas' August 26 deadline.

The presidential campaign of candidate Bob Barr, nominee of the Libertarian Party, filed suit to force state officials to remove McCain and Obama from the Texas ballot. The Texas Supreme Court quickly denied Barr's motion without explanation.