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| US rivals try to woo Christians | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US presidential hopefuls, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, are trying to woo Christian voters at a religious forum in California. | |
| The pair are sharing a stage for the first time since securing nomination, with influential US pastor Rick Warren interviewing both for an hour. | |
| The two men are expected to face questions on their personal values, leadership and international affairs. | The two men are expected to face questions on their personal values, leadership and international affairs. |
| The Reverend Warren said he would not endorse either of the candidates. | The Reverend Warren said he would not endorse either of the candidates. |
| Senator Obama is going first. | |
| The forum will be the senators' last joint appearance before their official nomination as the Republican and Democratic candidates at the party conventions in a few weeks. | The forum will be the senators' last joint appearance before their official nomination as the Republican and Democratic candidates at the party conventions in a few weeks. |
| Three debates are scheduled to take place after the conventions. | Three debates are scheduled to take place after the conventions. |
| 'No wiggle room' | 'No wiggle room' |
| Mr Warren is best known for building Saddleback Church into a 20,000-member "mega-church" in Lake Forest, southern California, and for writing The Purpose-Driven Life. | Mr Warren is best known for building Saddleback Church into a 20,000-member "mega-church" in Lake Forest, southern California, and for writing The Purpose-Driven Life. |
| Mr Warren has built a 20,000-member "mega-church" | Mr Warren has built a 20,000-member "mega-church" |
| Ahead of the forum, Mr Warren told CNN he would ask both men questions that did not have "a lot wiggle room". | Ahead of the forum, Mr Warren told CNN he would ask both men questions that did not have "a lot wiggle room". |
| "But I do want to know how they handle a crisis, because a lot of the things in the presidency often deal with things you don't know are going to happen," he said. | "But I do want to know how they handle a crisis, because a lot of the things in the presidency often deal with things you don't know are going to happen," he said. |
| John McCain, who identifies himself as Baptist, has made a strong appeal to social conservatives and evangelical Christians during his campaign. | John McCain, who identifies himself as Baptist, has made a strong appeal to social conservatives and evangelical Christians during his campaign. |
| But he rarely discusses his faith. Earlier this year he said: "I'm unashamed and unembarrassed about my deep faith in God. But I do not obviously try to impose my views on others." | But he rarely discusses his faith. Earlier this year he said: "I'm unashamed and unembarrassed about my deep faith in God. But I do not obviously try to impose my views on others." |
| Meanwhile, Barack Obama's appearance will underscore the tension that his support for abortion rights and same-sex civil unions has created with the more conservative religious voters. | Meanwhile, Barack Obama's appearance will underscore the tension that his support for abortion rights and same-sex civil unions has created with the more conservative religious voters. |
| Mr Obama, a Christian, has made a point of discussing his religion on the campaign trail and has been courting religious voters with a presence on Christian radio and blogs, and other events. | Mr Obama, a Christian, has made a point of discussing his religion on the campaign trail and has been courting religious voters with a presence on Christian radio and blogs, and other events. |