HOUSTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards received 38 percent of the vote to win an informal poll of Texas Democrats conducted online, the state's Democratic party said on Monday.

His closest opponents were senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton with 21 and 20 percent, respectively.

More than 8,000 people voted in the informal "ePrimary" held August 31 to September 7.

"Everyone knew this wasn't going to be a scientific poll, it was just a method for Texas Democrats to be able to get involved in the process," said party spokesman Hector Nieto.

He said the Democrats allowed no double voting or votes from outside of Texas.

The state's real primary will be March 4, 2008.