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US rivals to spar in final debate US rivals to spar in final debate
(about 10 hours later)
Barack Obama and John McCain are set to face each other in the final televised debate before the US presidential poll. Barack Obama and John McCain are set to face each other in a final televised debate before the US presidential poll.
With just three weeks to go before the election, Mr McCain badly needs a victory on Wednesday to dent Mr Obama's growing lead in the opinion polls. With just three weeks to go before the election, Mr McCain badly needs a victory to dent his Democratic rival's growing lead in the opinion polls.
The third debate is likely to centre on the state of the US economy, and both candidates revealed new economic rescue plans in the past few days. The third debate is likely to centre on the state of the US economy. Mr McCain may also attack Mr Obama's links with a member of a former US militant group.
Meanwhile, a new national poll puts Mr Obama ahead by 53% to 39%. Meanwhile, a new national poll puts Senator Obama ahead by 53% to 39%.
The poll, by the New York Times and CBS News, suggests that Mr McCain's recent turn to negative campaigning has backfired.The poll, by the New York Times and CBS News, suggests that Mr McCain's recent turn to negative campaigning has backfired.
The majority of those voters whose opinion have changed for the worse about Mr McCain cite his attacks on Mr Obama. The majority of those voters whose opinion have changed for the worse about the Republican presidential candidate cite his attacks on Mr Obama.
Pugnacious John McCain is about to walk into yet another trap BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in fullPugnacious John McCain is about to walk into yet another trap BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in full
Many of those attacks have focused on Mr Obama's links to Bill Ayers, formerly of US radical group Weather Underground, which waged a violent campaign against the Vietnam War during the 1960s and 1970s.
Mr Obama served on a charity board with Mr Ayers, now a university professor in Illinois.
Mr McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate also drew criticism from those who have changed their minds about him.Mr McCain's choice of Sarah Palin as running mate also drew criticism from those who have changed their minds about him.
Mr Obama was also ahead for the first time among men and among independent voters, two key groups he has been trying to win over.Mr Obama was also ahead for the first time among men and among independent voters, two key groups he has been trying to win over.
Other polls, including two daily tracking polls, put Senator McCain between five and nine points behind Senator Obama.Other polls, including two daily tracking polls, put Senator McCain between five and nine points behind Senator Obama.
'New direction' Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee has said it will halt its advertising in Maine and Wisconsin, two states it had been hoping might swing to Mr McCain. A Quinnipiac University poll on Tuesday gave Mr Obama more than 50% support in Wisconsin.
Barbs
The final debate will take place at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, hosted by Bob Schieffer of CBS News.The final debate will take place at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, hosted by Bob Schieffer of CBS News.
But already the candidates have exchanged barbs on their latest economic proposals. The BBC's Jamie Coomarasamy in New York says Mr McCain has taken to calling himself the underdog, a fighter who, as he puts it, is in just the position he would like to be - but many Republicans are less optimistic. class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7669013.stm">Economic plans compared class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7670638.stm">Last chance to shine
class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7669013.stm">Economic plans compared class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7670638.stm">Last chance to shine Mr McCain has suggested he will bring up the issue of his opponent's past associations in order to question whether Mr Obama has the character and judgement to lead.
It is a line of attack which many Republicans have been urging him to use more, our correspondent says, but one which polls suggest has not been helping him with independent and undecided voters.
Already the candidates have exchanged barbs on their latest economic proposals.
Mr McCain has proposed an extra $52bn in tax cuts to help retired people whose savings have been hit by the credit crunch, while Mr Obama wants an additional $60bn emergency spending package to help states, the unemployed and companies to create jobs.Mr McCain has proposed an extra $52bn in tax cuts to help retired people whose savings have been hit by the credit crunch, while Mr Obama wants an additional $60bn emergency spending package to help states, the unemployed and companies to create jobs.
Mr McCain attacked Mr Obama's plans as "more of the same" tax and spend, and warned that it would be a disaster to raise taxes during a recession.Mr McCain attacked Mr Obama's plans as "more of the same" tax and spend, and warned that it would be a disaster to raise taxes during a recession.
He said that he was the candidate who would take decisive action to deal with the crisis. But Mr Obama sought to tie John McCain to the "failed Bush economic policies" and said that putting a Democrat in charge was the only way to fix the economy's woes.
"We cannot spend the next four years as we have spent much of the last eight, waiting for our luck to change. As president I intend to act quickly and decisively," he told voters.
But Senator Obama sought to tie John McCain to the "failed Bush economic policies " and said that putting a Democrat in charge was the only way to fix the economy's woes.
"It will take a new direction. It will take new leadership in Washington. It will take a real change in the policies and politics of the last eight years," he said.
The Obama campaign sought to characterise Mr McCain's plan as "too little, too late" and said that he was "ill-equipped" to lead during this crisis, saying his response "has careened, changing course within the span of a single day".
Uphill taskUphill task
The debate is taking place against a dark public mood, with deep worries about the direction the country is going in.The debate is taking place against a dark public mood, with deep worries about the direction the country is going in.
More than 85% of voters think the country is going in the wrong direction, and 80% do not trust the government to do the right thing, according to the latest NY Times poll.More than 85% of voters think the country is going in the wrong direction, and 80% do not trust the government to do the right thing, according to the latest NY Times poll.
The state of the economy now rates as overwhelmingly the most important issue for voters.The state of the economy now rates as overwhelmingly the most important issue for voters.
With Mr Bush's poll ratings also at a record low, Mr McCain is finding he is facing an uphill task in separating himself from the current Republican administration.With Mr Bush's poll ratings also at a record low, Mr McCain is finding he is facing an uphill task in separating himself from the current Republican administration.
The scale of the economic challenge facing whoever becomes president was demonstrated by the news that the US government's budget deficit hit a record high of $455bn in the current financial year that ended on 1 October - even before the cost of the $700bn bail-out is taken into account. Meanwhile, the scale of the economic challenge facing the next president was demonstrated by the news that the US government's budget deficit hit a record high of $455bn in the current financial year that ended on 1 October - even before the cost of the $700bn bail-out is taken into account.
The final US presidential debate will be available live in streaming video on the BBC news website, with full commentary, a blow-by-blow description, and analysis, from 0100 GMT.The final US presidential debate will be available live in streaming video on the BBC news website, with full commentary, a blow-by-blow description, and analysis, from 0100 GMT.
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Will you be watching the debate? Have the presidential and vice presidential debates had any impact on the campaign? You can send us your views using the form below:Will you be watching the debate? Have the presidential and vice presidential debates had any impact on the campaign? You can send us your views using the form below:
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