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| Bush makes final appeal for votes | Bush makes final appeal for votes |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| President Bush has been making a final appeal for votes, in an attempt to boost support for the Republicans in the US mid-term elections. | |
| Speaking in Arkansas, Mr Bush said his party would win because it had the right policies on tax and security. | Speaking in Arkansas, Mr Bush said his party would win because it had the right policies on tax and security. |
| Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in final opinion polls, are focusing on Iraq, saying Republicans have blindly followed Bush's "failed policy". | Democrats, whose lead has narrowed in final opinion polls, are focusing on Iraq, saying Republicans have blindly followed Bush's "failed policy". |
| Both parties have sent thousands of volunteers to battleground states. | Both parties have sent thousands of volunteers to battleground states. |
| Turnout is not expected to be above 40%. | Turnout is not expected to be above 40%. |
| 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. |
| 'Strong finish' | 'Strong finish' |
| But Mr Bush, who also campaigned in Florida and Texas on Monday, said the Republicans would come from behind in the election. | But Mr Bush, who also campaigned in Florida and Texas on Monday, said the Republicans would come from behind in the election. |
| 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 | 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 |
| "Our principles are the principles of the majority of the people in this country," he said at a rally in Arkansas. | "Our principles are the principles of the majority of the people in this country," he said at a rally in Arkansas. |
| "We're going to win this election because we're right on the big issues. | "We're going to win this election because we're right on the big issues. |
| "You know I knew we were going to finish strong. I knew that we were going to come roaring into election day because we've got the right position on taxes and we've got the right position on what it takes to protect you from attack." | "You know I knew we were going to finish strong. I knew that we were going to come roaring into election day because we've got the right position on taxes and we've got the right position on what it takes to protect you from attack." |
| Democrats say the country's mood is changing | Democrats say the country's mood is changing |
| The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the president is making a late but vigorous effort to persuade Americans that continued Republican control of Congress is vital, and it does seem likely that the party will keep hold of the Senate at least. | The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says the president is making a late but vigorous effort to persuade Americans that continued Republican control of Congress is vital, and it does seem likely that the party will keep hold of the Senate at least. |
| But Democrats spoke of a change in mood up and down the country. | But Democrats spoke of a change in mood up and down the country. |
| "People are starting to look around, and I have been to Tennessee and I have been to Missouri, and I've been to Rhode Island and I've been to New Jersey, I've been to Virginia, I've been to Maryland, and all across the country people are saying 'I think it's time for a change'," Illinois Senator Barack Obama said. | "People are starting to look around, and I have been to Tennessee and I have been to Missouri, and I've been to Rhode Island and I've been to New Jersey, I've been to Virginia, I've been to Maryland, and all across the country people are saying 'I think it's time for a change'," Illinois Senator Barack Obama said. |
| Early voting | Early voting |
| Mr Bush was snubbed by the Republican candidate for Florida governor, Charlie Crist, who missed the president's rally in Pensacola and held his own in Palm Beach, hundreds of miles away. | Mr Bush was snubbed by the Republican candidate for Florida governor, Charlie Crist, who missed the president's rally in Pensacola and held his own in Palm Beach, hundreds of miles away. |
| Mr Crist rejected Mr Bush in favour of former rival John McCain | Mr Crist rejected Mr Bush in favour of former rival John McCain |
| Correspondents say some Republican candidates are keeping their distance from Mr Bush, because of the president's low opinion poll ratings and the unpopularity of the Iraq war. | Correspondents say some Republican candidates are keeping their distance from Mr Bush, because of the president's low opinion poll ratings and the unpopularity of the Iraq war. |
| Recent opinion polls suggest the Democrats will pick up seats, but the final polls also suggest a slight gain in Republican fortunes and that gain could result in the president's party rescuing its fortunes at the last minute, our correspondent adds. | Recent opinion polls suggest the Democrats will pick up seats, but the final polls also suggest a slight gain in Republican fortunes and that gain could result in the president's party rescuing its fortunes at the last minute, our correspondent adds. |
| Hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots, taking advantage of an early voting system. | Hundreds of thousands of voters have already cast their ballots, taking advantage of an early voting system. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |