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US rivals give plan wary backing US rivals clash on bail-out vote
(about 13 hours later)
The US presidential candidates have given a cautious welcome to a rescue plan for the US financial system agreed by leaders from both parties. The rival US presidential campaigns have clashed in response to the failure of the bail-out bill in Congress.
Republican John McCain said it was a bitter pill, but that doing nothing was "simply not an acceptable option". An adviser to John McCain accused Barack Obama and Democrats of "putting politics ahead of country".
Democrat Barack Obama said it was an "outrage" taxpayers had to rescue Wall Street but agreed action was necessary. A spokesman for Barack Obama responded by criticising the "the angry and hyper-partisan statement released by the McCain campaign".
Meanwhile, national opinion polls suggest Senator Obama is opening up a lead of several points over his rival.Meanwhile, national opinion polls suggest Senator Obama is opening up a lead of several points over his rival.
A Gallup daily tracking poll published on Sunday gave Mr Obama an eight-point lead of 50% to Senator McCain's 42%. A Gallup daily tracking poll published on Monday gave Mr Obama an eight-point lead of 50% to Senator McCain's 42%, for the second day running.
A Rasmussen poll published on the same day suggested Mr Obama held a six-point margin over Mr McCain, with 50% to his 44%. A Rasmussen poll published on the same day suggested Mr Obama held a five-point margin over Mr McCain, with 50% to his 45%.
Analysts say the current economic turmoil may have contributed to a shift back towards Mr Obama in the polls, with more voters considering him better qualified to handle the economy.Analysts say the current economic turmoil may have contributed to a shift back towards Mr Obama in the polls, with more voters considering him better qualified to handle the economy.
Meanwhile, audience research has shown that last Friday's McCain-Obama debate drew a TV audience of 52.4 millions viewers in the United States.
That was slightly fewer than the 52.7m who watched President Bush's live address on the financial crisis on Wednesday.
The October 1980 debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan still holds the TV record for presidential debates with 80.6m viewers.
'Clean up''Clean up'
The $700bn (£380bn) rescue plan agreed by top Democrats and Republicans, which will allow the Treasury to buy bad debts from ailing banks in the US, still needs approval by both Houses of Congress. The $700bn (£380bn) rescue plan agreed by top Democrats and Republicans, which would allow the Treasury to buy bad debts from ailing banks in the US, was rejected by the House of Representatives by 228 votes to 205.
This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with John McCainThis is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with John McCain
Prior to the vote, both White House hopefuls had given their backing to the bill.
Interviewed on morning TV on Sunday, Mr McCain said the proposal hammered out over the weekend took into account his demands for stronger oversight and a limit to compensation for bank executives.Interviewed on morning TV on Sunday, Mr McCain said the proposal hammered out over the weekend took into account his demands for stronger oversight and a limit to compensation for bank executives.
He said: "This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with. The option of doing nothing is simply not an acceptable option."He said: "This is something that all of us will swallow hard and go forward with. The option of doing nothing is simply not an acceptable option."
Speaking about the financial institutions at a rally in Detroit, Mr Obama said it was an outrage that Washington was "now being forced to clean up their mess".Speaking about the financial institutions at a rally in Detroit, Mr Obama said it was an outrage that Washington was "now being forced to clean up their mess".
In a TV interview, he also stressed that the plan now met his calls for more oversight, protection for taxpayers and help for people faced with the loss of their homes.In a TV interview, he also stressed that the plan now met his calls for more oversight, protection for taxpayers and help for people faced with the loss of their homes.
Mr Obama is expected to campaign in the battleground states of Colorado and Nevada on Monday.
Uncommitted voters
Opinion polls conducted directly after Friday's debate - which touched on the economy as well as foreign policy - suggested television viewers saw Mr Obama as coming out on top overall.
A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll conducted on Friday found 51% considered Mr Obama "did the best job", compared with 38% who thought Mr McCain did better.
A CBS News/Knowledge Networks poll of uncommitted voters on Friday found 39% thought Mr Obama "did the best job - or won", compared to 24% for Mr McCain.
The CBS poll - which has been tracking how the opinions of uncommitted voters are changing - found that Mr Obama had gained 16 points on the question of "being prepared for the job of president", after the debate.
Meanwhile, a USA Today/Gallup poll on Saturday found 46% of those surveyed who had watched the debate thought Mr Obama "did a better job", while 34% favoured Mr McCain.
A Zogby International poll also gave Mr Obama the edge, but by only one percentage point.