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US parties poised for poll battle US parties poised for poll battle
(19 minutes later)
The Republican and Democratic parties are gearing up for a final day of campaigning before the US votes in key mid-term elections on Tuesday.The Republican and Democratic parties are gearing up for a final day of campaigning before the US votes in key mid-term elections on Tuesday.
Both parties have welcomed the death sentence handed down to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Sunday. Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in recent opinion polls, are expected to focus on Iraq.
President George W Bush thanked US troops for making the trial possible. US policy in Iraq has been heavily criticised in an influential military journal, which called for the dismissal of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
His Democratic Party opponents, whose lead has narrowed in the latest opinion polls, are set to continue attacking him over Iraq, our correspondent says. Democrats hope to win control of at least one of the Houses of Congress.
BBC NEWS WEBSITE COVERAGE Come back for full Senate, House and Governor results as they break, plus expert comment and analysis Results map Reporters' blog Have your say Monday will see the publication of an editorial in a military journal, the Army Times, calling for the dismissal of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. BBC NEWS WEBSITE COVERAGE Come back for full Senate, House and Governor results as they break, plus expert comment and analysis Results map Reporters' blog Have your say
A senior Democratic congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi, said the scope of the administration's failure in Iraq was not lessened by the Saddam trial.
The Democrats are hoping to take control of at least one of the two Houses of Congress.
But according to the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington, the final opinion polls before voting suggest that the Republicans are not beaten and may have gained ground in recent days.But according to the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington, the final opinion polls before voting suggest that the Republicans are not beaten and may have gained ground in recent days.
Both parties have welcomed the death sentence handed down to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Sunday.
But in an editorial, the Army Times said that Mr Rumsfeld, the architect of the Iraq campaign, has "lost credibility with the uniformed leadership".
It urged President George W Bush to install a replacement at the Pentagon.
'Courage and skill''Courage and skill'
President Bush spent Sunday campaigning in districts of conservative states where Republican control appeared under threat. President Bush spent Sunday campaigning in districts of conservative states where Republican control appears to be under threat.
Mr Bush says Saddam Hussein's sentence is a landmarkMr Bush says Saddam Hussein's sentence is a landmark
He told a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, that the death sentence awarded to Saddam Hussein marked a "landmark event".He told a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, that the death sentence awarded to Saddam Hussein marked a "landmark event".
He urged his audience to thank "the men and women of America's armed forces".He urged his audience to thank "the men and women of America's armed forces".
"Without their courage and skill, today's verdict never would have happened," he said."Without their courage and skill, today's verdict never would have happened," he said.
The Republicans have regularly accused the Democrats of cowardice over Iraq, saying the party was not prepared to take the risks necessary to make the US secure. The Republicans have regularly accused the Democrats of cowardice over Iraq, saying the party is not prepared to take the risks necessary to make the US secure.
'Mount Everests''Mount Everests'
Turn-out on Tuesday is not expected to be above 40% and both parties have spent the past few days trying to ensure their supporters are motivated to vote. Turnout on Tuesday is not expected to be above 40%, and both parties have spent the past few days trying to ensure their supporters are motivated to vote.
Ms Pelosi told a crowd in the north-eastern state of Connecticut that the Democrats are "poised for success", but she warned against complacency. A senior Democrat congresswoman, Nancy Pelosi, told a crowd in the north-eastern state of Connecticut that the Democrats were "poised for success", but she warned against complacency.
"We have two Mount Everests we have to climb - they are called Monday and Tuesday," she said."We have two Mount Everests we have to climb - they are called Monday and Tuesday," she said.
A third of the Senate, the whole House of Representatives and 36 governorships are up for election on 7 November.A third of the Senate, the whole House of Representatives and 36 governorships are up for election on 7 November.
The Democrats need to pick up six seats to gain control of the Senate, and 15 House seats to have a majority there.The Democrats need to pick up six seats to gain control of the Senate, and 15 House seats to have a majority there.