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US hopefuls swing into key states US rivals target knife-edge races
(about 1 hour later)
The US presidential candidates are focusing their efforts on key swing states on Sunday as the 18-month-long election campaign draws to a close. The US presidential candidates are focusing their efforts on key swing states on the penultimate day of campaigning in the White House race.
Republican John McCain will appear on stage twice in Pennsylvania, while Democrat Barack Obama will speak in Ohio three times. In Pennsylvania, Republican John McCain urged supporters to "knock on doors - with your help we can win".
Mr McCain's running mate Sarah Palin will also hold three Ohio rallies. His Democratic rival Barack Obama and Mr McCain's running mate Sarah Palin were each speaking three times in Ohio.
Ohio, which narrowly voted Republican in 2004, is seen as a must-win for Mr McCain in Tuesday's election.Ohio, which narrowly voted Republican in 2004, is seen as a must-win for Mr McCain in Tuesday's election.
Under the system used in US presidential elections Ohio carries 20 electoral votes, making it one of the largest states where polls show the result could still go either way.Under the system used in US presidential elections Ohio carries 20 electoral votes, making it one of the largest states where polls show the result could still go either way.
Pennsylvania, where Mr McCain will hold two rallies on Sunday morning, is another crucial state. It boasts 21 electoral votes and voted Democratic in 2004. Pennsylvania is another crucial state. It boasts 21 electoral votes and voted Democratic in 2004.
'We will win'
Analysts say Mr McCain, 72, needs to win in Ohio to stand a chance of reaching the White House, while Mr Obama needs to hold on to Pennsylvania for the Democrats if his poll lead is to be translated into a result on election day.Analysts say Mr McCain, 72, needs to win in Ohio to stand a chance of reaching the White House, while Mr Obama needs to hold on to Pennsylvania for the Democrats if his poll lead is to be translated into a result on election day.
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 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."
"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.
Earlier, 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, heading Mr McCain 50-44.
'True maverick''True maverick'
After spending Saturday campaigning in traditionally conservative states brought into play by Mr Obama's poll lead, both candidates are using Sunday to return to more usual election battlegrounds. On Saturday night, Mr McCain had showed his lighter side, appearing on the high-profile TV comedy show, Saturday Night Live.
John McCain appears with his running mate's lookalike (Clip courtesy NBC) "The Mac is back" McCain tells supporters
Mr McCain showed his lighter side on Saturday night, appearing on the high-profile TV comedy show, Saturday Night Live.
He played on his reputation as a maverick and the reality of being outspent on the campaign trail by Mr Obama.He played on his reputation as a maverick and the reality of being outspent on the campaign trail by Mr Obama.
"I'm a true Republican maverick: a Republican without money," Mr McCain joked, pretending to introduce a sale of campaign-related products on shopping channel QVC - chosen, he told viewers, because the McCain-Palin campaign could not afford nationwide network TV coverage like Mr Obama."I'm a true Republican maverick: a Republican without money," Mr McCain joked, pretending to introduce a sale of campaign-related products on shopping channel QVC - chosen, he told viewers, because the McCain-Palin campaign could not afford nationwide network TV coverage like Mr Obama.
He appeared in good spirits on the show as he stood beside comedian Tina Fey, performing her much-acclaimed impersonation of Mrs Palin.He appeared in good spirits on the show as he stood beside comedian Tina Fey, performing her much-acclaimed impersonation of Mrs Palin.
Campaigning in Virginia earlier, the Arizona senator told voters: "We can and will win."
"I'm not afraid of the fight, I'm ready for it and you're going to fight with me," he added.
For his part, Mr Obama, 47, used a nationwide radio address to repeat his message of "change": "If you give me your vote on Tuesday, we won't just win this election - together, we will change this country and change the world."For his part, Mr Obama, 47, used a nationwide radio address to repeat his message of "change": "If you give me your vote on Tuesday, we won't just win this election - together, we will change this country and change the world."
And in a new TV advert aired on Sunday, the Obama campaign highlighted US Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of Mr McCain on Saturday.And in a new TV advert aired on Sunday, the Obama campaign highlighted US Vice President Dick Cheney's endorsement of Mr McCain on Saturday.
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."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."
Crucial statesCrucial states
Both campaigns have thousands of volunteers working flat-out manning phone banks, handing out brochures and knocking on doors as election day approaches.Both campaigns have thousands of volunteers working flat-out manning phone banks, handing out brochures and knocking on doors as election day approaches.
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 FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL This is the time of anxiety where events and statements should be treated with most caution Gavin Hewitt class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/gavinhewitt/2008/11/frayed_nerves_and_rumours.html">Updates from the campaign trail class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5582">Send us your views Mr Obama has warned against complacency and urged Democratic supporters to vote.
Mr Obama, who saw his lead narrow in one tracking poll on Saturday, but maintained a 9-to-10-point lead in others, has warned against complacency and urged Democratic supporters to vote. Yet final weekend has already sprung a couple of surprises, one on each campaign so far.
Speaking in Newport News, Virginia, Mr McCain questioned Mr Obama's readiness to lead in the face of such "grave threats" as al-Qaeda and the prospect of a nuclear-armed Iran.
He also attacked the Illinois senator's tax plans.
"He's running for redistributor-in-chief, I'm running for commander-in-chief," said Mr McCain.
Obama's aunt
The final weekend has sprung a couple of surprises, one on each campaign so far.
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 trailIn pictures: US candidates' ralliesSend us your views
On Saturday, it was revealed Mrs 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.On Saturday, it was revealed Mrs 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.
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.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.
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.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.
Officials later launched an investigation into the leaking of Zeituni Onyango's immigration status, reports said.Officials later launched an investigation into the leaking of Zeituni Onyango's immigration status, reports said.
President George W Bush, in his last weekly radio address before his successor is chosen, urged citizens to use their vote on 4 November. Meanwhile President George W Bush, in his last weekly radio address before his successor is chosen, urged citizens to use their vote on 4 November.
Polling officials are expecting some 130 million Americans to vote, says the BBC's North America editor Justin Webb - a turnout which would be higher than in any election since 1960. 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.