US election at-a-glance: 28 Feb

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DAY IN A NUTSHELL

The Canadian Embassy in Washington rejects a Canadian TV report alleging that officials from the Obama and Clinton campaigns privately assured Canadian diplomats that the candidates' anti-Nafta rhetoric should not be taken too seriously. The Clinton campaign announces that it has raised $35m (£17.5m) since the beginning of February. John McCain continues his attacks on Mr Obama's Iraq policy and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg rules out an independent presidential run.

KEY QUOTES

"That's history, that's the past... What we should be talking about is what we are going to do now."John McCain responds to Barack Obama's criticism of the decision to invade Iraq

We were kind of in a slump until I was dancing on the [Ellen DeGeneres] show Barack Obama <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7269733.stm">At-a-glance: 27 Feb</a>

"Working families cannot trust a candidate who telegraphs his real position to a foreign government and then dissembles in a nationally televised debate."Clinton supporter Tom Buffenbarger on the allegation that an Obama campaign official privately played down Mr Obama's anti-Nafta rhetoric to a Canadian diplomat

"They've heard us out on the issue of Nafta and expressed understanding for our position. But the candidates and their campaigns have been very careful to refrain from making specific commitments."Roy Norton, Minister of Public Affairs for the Canadian embassy in Washington

"We were kind of in a slump until I was dancing on the [Ellen DeGeneres] show - my poll numbers skyrocketed after that. Everybody saw me bust a move on Ellen - that's all it took."Barack Obama reveals the secret of his success to talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres

"Like Obama, McCain's toughest fights have come in primaries... That's an unusual situation, and it means that public perceptions of both men could prove quite fragile and prone to shifting once the battle is joined in earnest."Matthew Yglesias, Atlantic Monthly

NUMBER NEWS

Two surveys of Texan Democratic voters published today provide conflicting views of the state of the race.

A Rasmussen poll indicates that Barack Obama has a four-point lead over Hillary Clinton, with 48% to her 44%.

But an InsiderAdvantage/Majority Opinion Research survey suggests that it is Mrs Clinton with a four-point lead.

The poll puts her on 47%, with Mr Obama trailing on 43%.

The pollsters' methodologies will be put to the test on 4 March, when Texans cast their ballots in the state's primary.

DAILY PICTURE

Barack Obama demonstrates one of the core skills a campaigning politician needs to master