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US rivals target knife-edge races US rivals in final dash for votes
(about 8 hours later)
The US presidential rivals have been targeting key swing states on the penultimate day of campaigning in the race for the White House. The US presidential rivals are to spend the final day of campaigning in the race for the White House criss-crossing the country in one last push for votes.
In Ohio, Democrat and front-runner Barack Obama told voters they were "two days from changing America". The Republican John McCain will speak in seven states from Florida in the east to his native Arizona in the west.
Republican John McCain urged supporters in Pennsylvania to "knock on doors - with your help we can win". Democrat Barack Obama will travel to Florida, North Carolina and Virginia - all won by the Republicans in 2004.
Both camps are keenly aware of the need to get voters out in key states which polls suggest remain in the balance. After one of the dearest campaigns in history, one of the men will on Tuesday be voted the 44th American president.
Ohio, a narrow Republican win in 2004, has 20 votes under the electoral college system used in US presidential elections, making it one of the largest "undecided" states. Pennsylvania boasts 21 electoral votes and chose the Democrats in 2004. Both camps are keenly aware of the need to get voters out in the states that polls suggest remain in the balance.
ELECTION DAY ON THE BBC Join us on 4 November to follow the news as America votes, including: Live text updates through the day and night, with input from BBC correspondents around the USResults as they come in, on a live updating map, from midnight GMTStreaming video of the BBC election night programme in WashingtonAnalysis from BBC North America editor Justin Webb in Washington, and Gavin Hewitt and Matthew Price at the candidates' HQs In Ohio on Sunday, Mr Obama told supporters they were "two days from changing America".
Despite more gloomy news from the opinion polls on Sunday, Mr McCain told supporters in Wallingford: "We are going to win in Pennsylvania, we are going to win this election - I sense it and I know it. Ohio, a narrow Republican win in 2004, has 20 votes under the electoral college system used in US presidential elections, making it one of the largest "undecided" states.
"We are going to win here and we are going to bring real change to Washington," Mr McCain added, in the first of two rallies in the state. For his part, Mr McCain urged crowds in Pennsylvania to "knock on doors - with your help we can win".
The BBC's Matthew Price, in Pennsylvania, says Mr McCain has been focusing on conservative Democrats, and independent-minded voters who live in economically depressed areas of the state. Pennsylvania boasts 21 electoral votes and chose the Democrats in 2004.
The Arizona senator has appeared more relaxed and confident in recent days and his campaign believes he is staging something of a comeback. Backed by the Boss
But most polls suggest he may have left it too late, our correspondent says. Flush with a record-breaking fundraising operation, Mr Obama has been on the offensive all across the map, but on Sunday focused on Ohio, which has voted for the winning candidate in every presidential election since 1964.
On Sunday, a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey suggested Mr Obama had a seven-point (53%-46%) lead over Mr McCain in the race for the White House.
A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll saw Mr Obama increasing his lead by one point, leading Mr McCain by 50% to 44%.
'Sidekick, not maverick'
Flush with a record-breaking fundraising operation, Mr Obama is on the offensive all across the map, but concentrated on Ohio on Sunday, making three appearances in the state.
Rallying supporters in Columbus, Ohio, Mr Obama said: "I have two words for you: Two days.
"The Mac is back" McCain tells supporters
"In two days you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election."
And he hit out at Mr McCain's record on the economy, saying he had backed the policies of the Bush administration "all the way".
"He [McCain] hasn't been a maverick, he's been a sidekick," Mr Obama said.
Meanwhile, in a new TV advert broadcast on Sunday, the Obama campaign highlighted US Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of Mr McCain.
In the advert, an announcer says Mr McCain earned Mr Cheney's support by voting with the White House 90% of the time, adding: "That's not the change we need."
And Obama campaign chief David Plouffe told Fox News that the campaign's tactic of targeting traditionally Republican states was because they "did not want to wake up on the morning of November 4 waiting for one state".
"We wanted a lot of different ways to win this election," he said.
Crucial states
Both campaigns have thousands of volunteers working flat-out manning phone banks, handing out brochures and knocking on doors ahead of the election on Tuesday, 4 November.
FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL This is the time of anxiety where events and statements should be treated with most caution Gavin Hewitt Updates from the campaign trailCampaign in picturesSend us your viewsFROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL This is the time of anxiety where events and statements should be treated with most caution Gavin Hewitt Updates from the campaign trailCampaign in picturesSend us your views
Under the Electoral College system, states are apportioned votes based on their population, the biggest being California with 55 votes. In the state capital, Cleveland, he told a crowd of 80,000 who had gathered to hear him - and the singer Bruce Springsteen - that he was "feeling good".
Polls suggest the six closest state races on election day will be in Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada and Ohio.Mr Obama has warned against complacency and urged Democratic supporters to vote. "The crowds seem to grow and everybody's got a smile on their face," he said. "You start thinking that maybe we might be able to win an election."
Yet the final weekend has already sprung a couple of surprises on each campaign. The Illinois senator told 60,000 supporters at an earlier rally in Columbus: "In two days you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election."
On Saturday, it was revealed that Mr McCain's running mate Sarah Palin, the Governor of Alaska, had been duped by a prank call in which a Canadian radio presenter successfully convinced her for five minutes that he was French President Nicolas Sarkozy. He also hit out at Mr McCain's record on the economy, saying he had backed the policies of the Bush administration "all the way".
Meanwhile, in a new TV advert broadcast on Sunday, the Obama campaign highlighted US Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of Mr McCain.
And Obama campaign chief David Plouffe told Fox News the campaign's tactic of targeting traditionally Republican states was because they "did not want to wake up on the morning of 4 November waiting for one state".
'One more mission'
Despite more gloomy news from the opinion polls, Mr McCain has appeared more relaxed in recent days, and his campaign believes he is staging something of a comeback.
In Pennsylvania on Sunday, the Arizona senator told supporters in Wallingford: "We are going to win in Pennsylvania, we are going to win this election - I sense it and I know it.
"The Mac is back" McCain tells supporters
"We are going to win here and we are going to bring real change to Washington."
The BBC's Matthew Price said Mr McCain had been focusing on conservative Democrats and independent-minded voters who lived in economically depressed areas of the state.
The Vietnam veteran later appeared beside baseball star Curt Schilling at a crowded town hall meeting in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
"I come tonight to the independents, Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, vegetarians, asking you to let me go on one more mission."
But the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national survey suggests Mr McCain is trailing by seven points, while a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll puts Mr Obama ahead by 50% to 44%.
Early votes
Both campaigns have thousands of volunteers working flat-out manning phone banks, handing out brochures and knocking on doors ahead of Tuesday's election.
Obama continues to focus on the economyObama continues to focus on the economy
Meanwhile, it was reported that a Kenyan aunt of Mr Obama was living illegally in Boston, four years after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum. Under the Electoral College system, states are apportioned votes based on their population, the biggest being California with 55 votes.
Mr Obama said he did not know his aunt, Zeituni Onyango, was in the country illegally, adding that the laws covering the situation should be followed. Polls suggest the six closest state races on election day will be in Florida, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Nevada and Ohio.
Officials later launched an investigation into the leaking of Ms Onyango's immigration status, reports said. The BBC's Justin Webb, in Washington, says millions of Americans - perhaps a quarter of the total turnout - have already voted early, and that now the final rallies are in sight.
The BBC's Justin Webb, in Washington, says that millions of Americans - perhaps a quarter of the total turnout -have already voted early, and that now the final rallies are in sight.
Some 130 million Americans are expected to cast a vote, in a higher turnout than in any election since 1960, our correspondent adds.Some 130 million Americans are expected to cast a vote, in a higher turnout than in any election since 1960, our correspondent adds.
Prank call
The final weekend's campaigning sprung surprises for each campaign.
ELECTION DAY ON THE BBC Join us on 4 November to follow the news as America votes, including: Live text updates through the day and night, with input from BBC correspondents around the USResults as they come in, on a live updating map, from midnight GMTStreaming video of the BBC election night programme in WashingtonAnalysis from BBC North America editor Justin Webb in Washington, and Gavin Hewitt and Matthew Price at the candidates' HQs
On Saturday, it was revealed the Republican vice-presidential candidate, Sarah Palin, had been duped by a prank call.
For a full five minutes, a Canadian radio presenter successfully convinced the Alaska governor that he was French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Meanwhile, it was reported that a Kenyan aunt of Mr Obama was living illegally in Boston, four years after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum.