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US parties poised for poll battle US parties poised for poll battle
(about 2 hours 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.
Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in recent opinion polls, are expected to focus on Iraq.Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in recent opinion polls, are expected to focus on Iraq.
US policy in Iraq has been heavily criticised in an influential military journal, which called for the dismissal of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.US policy in Iraq has been heavily criticised in an influential military journal, which called for the dismissal of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.
Democrats hope to win control of at least one of the Houses of Congress.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 sayBBC 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
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. The BBC's James Coomarasamy in Washington says that although the mid-terms are essentially a series of local elections, the president's low approval ratings and the high number of recent US casualties in Iraq have made many races less predictable.
But the Republicans have been campaigning hard and may have had a boost in recent days, he adds.
Both parties have welcomed the death sentence handed down to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Sunday.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". But in a joint editorial, the Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times said Mr Rumsfeld, the architect of the Iraq campaign, had "lost credibility with the uniformed leadership".
It urged President George W Bush to install a replacement at the Pentagon.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 appears to be under threat. Mr Bush was due to rally supporters in three southern states on Monday, a fifth successive day on the campaign trail in areas judged vulnerable by Republican pollsters.
Mr Bush says Saddam Hussein's sentence is a landmark The president will try and convince people in Florida, Texas and Arkansas to vote Republican on Tuesday.
He told a rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, that the death sentence awarded to Saddam Hussein marked a "landmark event". Mr Bush says Saddam Hussein's sentence is a landmarkOn Sunday he spoke in Nebraska, saying the verdict of execution against Saddam Hussein was 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 is 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'
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.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.
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.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.