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US parties poised for poll battle US parties' final push for votes
(about 3 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. Republicans and Democrats have sent thousands of volunteers to the most contested US states to canvass support ahead of Tuesday's mid-term elections.
Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in recent opinion polls, are expected to focus on Iraq. President George W Bush is rallying support in the southern states of Florida, Texas and Arkansas on Monday.
US policy in Iraq has been heavily criticised in an influential military journal, which called for the dismissal of Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in recent opinion polls, are focusing on Iraq, saying Republicans have blindly followed Bush's "failed policy".
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
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.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.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. Hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots, taking advantage of an early voting system.
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". Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia allow in-person voting before election day in certain cases - either at a voting machine or by absentee ballot.
It urged President George W Bush to install a replacement at the Pentagon. However, turnout on Tuesday is not expected to be above 40%, and both parties are spending the last day trying to ensure their supporters are motivated to vote.
'Courage and skill''Courage and skill'
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. Iraq has dominated the campaign season. Both parties welcomed the death sentence handed down to former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein on Sunday.
The president will try and convince people in Florida, Texas and Arkansas to vote Republican on Tuesday. However, US policy in Iraq has been heavily criticised in an editorial published in an influential military journal on Monday.
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". The Army Times, Air Force Times, Navy Times and Marine Corps Times said Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the architect of the Iraq campaign, had "lost credibility with the uniformed leadership".
He urged his audience to thank "the men and women of America's armed forces". Mr Bush says Saddam Hussein's sentence is a landmarkIt urged President George W Bush to install a replacement at the Pentagon.
"Without their courage and skill, today's verdict never would have happened," he said. Mr Bush is canvassing support in three southern states on Monday, a fifth successive day on the campaign trail in areas judged vulnerable by Republican pollsters.
On 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" for their courage and skill, without which the "verdict would never have happened".
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' The Democrats say they want a "new direction" to Iraq.
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. Correspondents say the Democratic party could push to investigate the Bush administration preparations for the Iraq war and there are also those within the party who want to impeach the president for allegedly misleading Congress about Iraq's weapons programmes.
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.
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.