US election at-a-glance: 17-23 May

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/7417771.stm

Version 0 of 1.

WEEK IN A NUTSHELL

The Democratic candidates share the honours in this week's primaries, with Hillary Clinton winning Kentucky and Barack Obama taking Oregon. The contests do give Mr Obama an unassailable majority of elected "pledged" delegates, however. Republican John McCain releases eight years-worth of his medical records and continues his attacks on Mr Obama's foreign policy.

KEY QUOTES

"I'm going to keep making our case until we have a nominee, whoever she may be."Hillary Clinton

For a young man with very little experience, [Obama's] done very well. John McCain <a class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7403655.stm">At-a-glance: 10-16 May</a>

"You have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States."Barack Obama celebrates winning a majority of pledged delegates

"I think Obama was terribly sexist."Clinton supporter Geraldine Ferarro objects to Barack Obama referring to a female journalist as "Sweetie"

"I am one that believes that if it works out that Senator Obama is the nominee, the strongest ticket would be Senator Clinton as vice president."Senator Dianne Feinstein

"Over the past 50 years, 17 men and one woman have been chosen by the major parties to run for the vice presidency of the US. Only one - Lyndon Johnson in 1960 - demonstrably affected the outcome of the presidential race."Bloomberg's Al Hunt attempts to dampen down media excitement about the candidates' potential running-mates

"I admire and respect Senator Obama. For a young man with very little experience, he's done very well."John McCain damns his opponent with faint praise

NUMBER NEWS

With primary season all-but-over, pollsters are now turning their attention to general election matchups, both nationally, and at state-level.

Two companies - Rasmussen and Gallup - are conducting national daily tracking surveys, pitting both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton against John McCain. This week's surveys almost all suggest that both Democrats are in a statistical tie with their Republican opponent.

A stand-alone Zogby poll this week also matches both Democrats up against Mr McCain. It gives Mr Obama a 10-point lead (47%-37%), and Mr Clinton a one-point lead (41%-40%).

Surveys published this week of general election swing-states give both Democrats something to boast about.

Three Quinnipiac polls of voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida all give Mrs Clinton a bigger lead than Mr Obama over Mr McCain - indeed, the surveys suggest that Mr McCain would beat Mr Obama in Florida and Ohio.

But two SurveyUSA polls - in Ohio and Virginia - both give Mr Obama leads over Mr McCain.

SurveyUSA opted not to pit Mr McCain against Mrs Clinton in their surveys.

WEEKLY PICTURE

A Floridian Hillary Clinton supporter urges her chosen candidate to stay in the Democratic presidential race