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US hopefuls spar in final debate US hopefuls spar in final debate
(30 minutes later)
Barack Obama and John McCain have clashed over their economic plans and negative campaigning in a final TV debate before the US presidential poll. Barack Obama and John McCain have clashed over their economic plans and other issues in a fractious final TV debate before the US presidential poll.
Mr McCain said his economic rescue plan would put hurting homeowners first and that Mr Obama wanted to raise taxes.
Mr Obama said his plan would create jobs, help homeowners without handing money to banks and give long-term help.
In a series of testy exchanges, Mr McCain accused Mr Obama of lying and of associating with a domestic terrorist.In a series of testy exchanges, Mr McCain accused Mr Obama of lying and of associating with a domestic terrorist.
Mr McCain was referring to his rival's links with Bill Ayers, once a member of a US group that waged a violent campaign against the Vietnam War during the 1960s and 1970s. Mr McCain also accused his rival of wanting to raise taxes and of being untruthful in his campaigning.
However, Mr Obama rejected Mr McCain's criticism over Mr Ayers - now a university professor with whom he has served on a charity board - pointing out that he had been a child at the time of Mr Ayers' radical activities. Mr Obama sought to link the Republican with President Bush's policies and said he was running a negative campaign.
Mr McCain's reference to Mr Obama's association with Bill Ayers, once a member of a US group that waged a violent campaign against the Vietnam War, continued the chief Republican line of attack from the past 10 days..
McCain renews his attack on Obama's association with Bill AyersMcCain renews his attack on Obama's association with Bill Ayers
However, Mr Obama rejected Mr McCain's criticism over Mr Ayers - now a university professor with whom he has served on a charity board - pointing out that he had been a child at the time of Mr Ayers' radical activities.
"Mr Ayers is not involved in my campaign," he said."Mr Ayers is not involved in my campaign," he said.
Mr McCain also accused Mr Obama of big spending on attack ads. Mr McCain, senator for Arizona, also accused Mr Obama of big spending on attack ads.
The Illinois senator responded that 100% of Mr McCain's political adverts had been negative and that voters were more interested at this point in how the candidates planned to fix the economy.The Illinois senator responded that 100% of Mr McCain's political adverts had been negative and that voters were more interested at this point in how the candidates planned to fix the economy.
Mr McCain is currently running all negative ads, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin Advertising Project, but he has run a number of positive adverts in the course of the campaign.
'Spread the wealth''Spread the wealth'
The 90-minute debate, held at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, with moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News, elicited more direct confrontations between the candidates than their two previous encounters.The 90-minute debate, held at Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, with moderator Bob Schieffer of CBS News, elicited more direct confrontations between the candidates than their two previous encounters.
Again, McCain seems harsher, but is this not what debating is all about? BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in fullLIVE: Video and text class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5505&edition=1">Send us your comments Again, McCain seems harsher, but is this not what debating is all about? BBC North America editor Justin Webb Read Justin's thoughts in fullLIVE: Debate reaction class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5505&edition=1">Send us your comments
Both candidates sought to explain how they would make their promised economic packages and spending plans fit with a rising US budget deficit.Both candidates sought to explain how they would make their promised economic packages and spending plans fit with a rising US budget deficit.
Mr McCain said he would be able to balance the federal budget by cutting wasteful spending and urged voters to compare the records of the two candidates.Mr McCain said he would be able to balance the federal budget by cutting wasteful spending and urged voters to compare the records of the two candidates.
Mr Obama said the $700bn rescue plan approved by Congress would, if handled correctly, give US taxpayers their money back. He used the example of "Joe the plumber", a plumber from Ohio who expressed concern about what Mr Obama's tax plans might mean for his business after meeting the Democrat at the weekend.
He rejected Mr McCain's charge that he planned to raise taxes on higher earners to "spread the wealth around", saying that "nobody likes taxes" but that investment in the economy was necessary. Mr Obama rejected Mr McCain's charge that he planned to raise taxes on higher earners to "spread the wealth around", saying that "nobody likes taxes" but that investment in the economy was necessary.
Mr McCain sought to fight back against Mr Obama's attempt to link him to the policies of the Bush administration.Mr McCain sought to fight back against Mr Obama's attempt to link him to the policies of the Bush administration.
John McCain tells his rival that he 'is not President Bush'John McCain tells his rival that he 'is not President Bush'
"Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago," he said."Senator Obama, I am not President Bush. If you wanted to run against President Bush, you should have run four years ago," he said.
Mr Obama countered: "If I have occasionally mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people, on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush."Mr Obama countered: "If I have occasionally mistaken your policies for George Bush's policies, it's because on the core economic issues that matter to the American people, on tax policy, on energy policy, on spending priorities you have been a vigorous supporter of President Bush."
The debate comes as a new national poll puts Democratic Senator Obama ahead by 53% to 39%.The debate comes as a new national poll puts Democratic 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 has changed for the worse about the Republican presidential candidate cite his attacks on Mr Obama. The majority of those voters whose opinion of the Republican presidential candidate has gone down cite his attacks on Mr Obama.
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.
Uphill taskUphill task
The candidates had already exchanged barbs on their latest economic proposals ahead of the debate. The state of the economy now rates as overwhelmingly the most important issue for voters.
Economic plans comparedLast chance to shineEconomic plans comparedLast chance to shine
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 candidates had been elaborating on their latest economic proposals ahead of the debate.
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.
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.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.A Quinnipiac University poll on Tuesday gave Mr Obama more than 50% support in Wisconsin.
The debate is taking place are voters express deep worries about the direction the country is going in.
More than 85% 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 New York Times poll.
The state of the economy now rates as overwhelmingly the most important issue for voters.
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.