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| Obama to visit sick grandmother | Obama to visit sick grandmother |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama is cancelling campaign events this week to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii, an aide says. | US Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama is cancelling campaign events this week to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii, an aide says. |
| The announcement came as Mr Obama made campaign stops in Florida, including a rare joint appearance with former rival Hillary Clinton. | The announcement came as Mr Obama made campaign stops in Florida, including a rare joint appearance with former rival Hillary Clinton. |
| In one speech he vowed to halt eviction of homeowners defaulting on mortgages. | In one speech he vowed to halt eviction of homeowners defaulting on mortgages. |
| Republican John McCain attacked his rival's economic policies, and vowed to take the country in a new direction. | Republican John McCain attacked his rival's economic policies, and vowed to take the country in a new direction. |
| Campaigning in Missouri, another swing state, John McCain accused his Democratic rival of misleading the electorate by plotting to hike taxes. | Campaigning in Missouri, another swing state, John McCain accused his Democratic rival of misleading the electorate by plotting to hike taxes. |
| McCain insists it's not too late - he's invigorated at the moment, and seems to have renewed energy class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/matthewprice/">Matthew Price's blog | |
| "After months of campaign trail eloquence... we finally learned what Senator Obama's economic goal is... he wants to 'spread the wealth' around," Mr McCain said. | |
| "If I'm elected president I won't raise taxes on small businesses, Senator Obama will and that will force them to cut jobs." | "If I'm elected president I won't raise taxes on small businesses, Senator Obama will and that will force them to cut jobs." |
| Mr McCain said he would tackle the housing crisis by "buying up bad mortgages and re-financing them" in order "to realise the American dream and keep people in their homes". | Mr McCain said he would tackle the housing crisis by "buying up bad mortgages and re-financing them" in order "to realise the American dream and keep people in their homes". |
| 'Ugly' campaign | 'Ugly' campaign |
| Mr Obama's campaign said the candidate would leave the campaign trail on Thursday to visit his maternal grandmother, 85-year-old Madelyn Dunham. | Mr Obama's campaign said the candidate would leave the campaign trail on Thursday to visit his maternal grandmother, 85-year-old Madelyn Dunham. |
| When Barack Obama finally emerged the crowd erupted - it was not applause but a roar, like one that greets a winning team or the full-throated cry of the fan Gavin Hewitt's blog | |
| He is cancelling events in Des Moines, Iowa and Madison, Wisconsin for the visit. | He is cancelling events in Des Moines, Iowa and Madison, Wisconsin for the visit. |
| The condition of Ms Dunham, who helped to raise her grandson, is not clear although aide Robert Gibbs said her health had deteriorated in recent weeks. | The condition of Ms Dunham, who helped to raise her grandson, is not clear although aide Robert Gibbs said her health had deteriorated in recent weeks. |
| "Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life," Mr Gibbs said in a statement. | "Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life," Mr Gibbs said in a statement. |
| "Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college." | "Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college." |
| Mr Obama spent the day in Florida, accusing the Republican camp of "ugly" campaigning but said he would not be "distracted" by it. | Mr Obama spent the day in Florida, accusing the Republican camp of "ugly" campaigning but said he would not be "distracted" by it. |
| He focused his attention on the economy and those in Florida who have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis and financial slowdown. | He focused his attention on the economy and those in Florida who have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis and financial slowdown. |
| "We have tried it John McCain's way. We have tried it George Bush's way. It hasn't worked. It's time for something new," Mr Obama said. | "We have tried it John McCain's way. We have tried it George Bush's way. It hasn't worked. It's time for something new," Mr Obama said. |
| 'Town criers' | 'Town criers' |
| At one rally, Hillary Clinton joined her fellow Democrat on stage and urged the crowd of 50,000 supporters to "close the deal for Barack Obama". | At one rally, Hillary Clinton joined her fellow Democrat on stage and urged the crowd of 50,000 supporters to "close the deal for Barack Obama". |
| "Sending the Republicans to clean up the economic mess in Washington is like sending the bull to clean up the china closet," she warned. | "Sending the Republicans to clean up the economic mess in Washington is like sending the bull to clean up the china closet," she warned. |
| It was the first time the pair - who were bitter rivals in the Democratic primaries - had appeared together since July. | It was the first time the pair - who were bitter rivals in the Democratic primaries - had appeared together since July. |
| Mr Obama has been pushing early voting on a major scale, using speeches, e-mails and advertisements placed in popular video games. | Mr Obama has been pushing early voting on a major scale, using speeches, e-mails and advertisements placed in popular video games. |
| Voters in Florida head to the polls | Voters in Florida head to the polls |
| Officials in Florida were expecting a busy day. | Officials in Florida were expecting a busy day. |
| Thousands of Mr Obama's volunteers have been mobilised, including "town criers" riding on public buses, offering lifts to college students, and neighbourhood teams to give voters a push. | Thousands of Mr Obama's volunteers have been mobilised, including "town criers" riding on public buses, offering lifts to college students, and neighbourhood teams to give voters a push. |
| "There's too much at stake in this election to leave this responsibility to the last minute,'' said Steve Schale, Mr Obama's campaign director in Florida. | "There's too much at stake in this election to leave this responsibility to the last minute,'' said Steve Schale, Mr Obama's campaign director in Florida. |
| Meanwhile Mr McCain's campaign has opted to focus its efforts more selectively on supporters who do not always vote in presidential elections. | Meanwhile Mr McCain's campaign has opted to focus its efforts more selectively on supporters who do not always vote in presidential elections. |
| The party believes it can count on more reliable voters to get to the polls on 4 November, Rich Beeson, political director for the Republican National Committee, told the Associated Press news agency. | The party believes it can count on more reliable voters to get to the polls on 4 November, Rich Beeson, political director for the Republican National Committee, told the Associated Press news agency. |
| About a third of US electors in 2008 are expected to cast their vote early. | About a third of US electors in 2008 are expected to cast their vote early. |
| The process has grown in popularity in recent years, as people have become more familiar with it. | The process has grown in popularity in recent years, as people have become more familiar with it. |
| Early voting provisions have been expanded and restrictions on absentee ballots eased. | Early voting provisions have been expanded and restrictions on absentee ballots eased. |
| Registered voters can either cast their ballots in person or by mail, thus avoiding queues at polling stations on election day. | Registered voters can either cast their ballots in person or by mail, thus avoiding queues at polling stations on election day. |