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| US rivals keep focus on economy | US rivals keep focus on economy |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is to meet the governors of four battleground states for talks on his plans to rescue the US economy. | US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is to meet the governors of four battleground states for talks on his plans to rescue the US economy. |
| The move comes as his rival, Republican John McCain, told US media he was the candidate to listen to on the economy. | The move comes as his rival, Republican John McCain, told US media he was the candidate to listen to on the economy. |
| He will spend the day in Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama holds his jobs summit on the second day of a tour of Florida. | He will spend the day in Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama holds his jobs summit on the second day of a tour of Florida. |
| The Democrat is to take a two-day break from campaigning later this week to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii. | The Democrat is to take a two-day break from campaigning later this week to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii. |
| Madelyn Dunham, 85, who helped raise Mr Obama, is said to be seriously ill. | Madelyn Dunham, 85, who helped raise Mr Obama, is said to be seriously ill. |
| BBC North America editor Justin Webb says that despite Mr Obama's substantial lead over his rival, John McCain, his absence will make his staff nervous. | BBC North America editor Justin Webb says that despite Mr Obama's substantial lead over his rival, John McCain, his absence will make his staff nervous. |
| The Illinois senator has the advantage in the polls with two weeks to go until the 4 November election, but is not sufficiently far ahead to be confident of victory, our correspondent says. | The Illinois senator has the advantage in the polls with two weeks to go until the 4 November election, but is not sufficiently far ahead to be confident of victory, our correspondent says. |
| 'Listen to me' | 'Listen to me' |
| Mr Obama is to meet the governors of Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico and Colorado in Lake Worth, Florida, to discuss jobs and the economy with business leaders and financial experts. | Mr Obama is to meet the governors of Ohio, Michigan, New Mexico and Colorado in Lake Worth, Florida, to discuss jobs and the economy with business leaders and financial experts. |
| Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life Robert GibbsObama aide class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7681648.stm">Profile: Madelyn Dunham | |
| The chief executive of internet giant Google, Eric Schmidt, and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker are among those due to attend. | The chief executive of internet giant Google, Eric Schmidt, and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker are among those due to attend. |
| Mr Obama will move on to Virginia and Indiana, two traditionally Republican-leaning states where he is doing well in the polls, on Wednesday and Thursday. | Mr Obama will move on to Virginia and Indiana, two traditionally Republican-leaning states where he is doing well in the polls, on Wednesday and Thursday. |
| Meanwhile, in an interview shown on US network CBS's The Early Show on Tuesday, Mr McCain said it was "absolutely not true" that the financial crisis was hurting his campaign. | Meanwhile, in an interview shown on US network CBS's The Early Show on Tuesday, Mr McCain said it was "absolutely not true" that the financial crisis was hurting his campaign. |
| His comments were in response to reports that earlier this month one of his senior advisers said: "If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we're going to lose." | His comments were in response to reports that earlier this month one of his senior advisers said: "If we keep talking about the economic crisis, we're going to lose." |
| "We're focusing on the economy," Mr McCain insisted. "Listen to me. I'm the candidate, and this campaign is about the economy." | "We're focusing on the economy," Mr McCain insisted. "Listen to me. I'm the candidate, and this campaign is about the economy." |
| Opinion polls suggest voters have more confidence in Mr Obama than Mr McCain to handle the economy. | Opinion polls suggest voters have more confidence in Mr Obama than Mr McCain to handle the economy. |
| 'Campaign eloquence' | 'Campaign eloquence' |
| At rallies on Monday, Mr McCain pledged to do more to help homeowners defaulting on their mortgages, and said that, unlike Mr Obama, he would cut taxes to help create jobs. | At rallies on Monday, Mr McCain pledged to do more to help homeowners defaulting on their mortgages, and said that, unlike Mr Obama, he would cut taxes to help create jobs. |
| Hillary Clinton urges voters to elect Mr Obama | Hillary Clinton urges voters to elect Mr Obama |
| Campaigning in the swing state of Missouri, the Republican accused his Democratic rival of plotting to put up taxes. | Campaigning in the swing state of Missouri, the Republican accused his Democratic rival of plotting to put up taxes. |
| "After months of campaign trail eloquence... we finally learned what Senator Obama's economic goal is... he wants to 'spread the wealth' around," the 72-year-old Arizona senator said. | "After months of campaign trail eloquence... we finally learned what Senator Obama's economic goal is... he wants to 'spread the wealth' around," the 72-year-old Arizona senator said. |
| Mr Obama's campaign stops in Florida on Monday included a rare joint appearance with his former rival Hillary Clinton. | Mr Obama's campaign stops in Florida on Monday included a rare joint appearance with his former rival Hillary Clinton. |
| Mrs Clinton urged the crowd of some 50,000 people to "close the deal for Barack Obama", on the day that early voting opened in the state. | Mrs Clinton urged the crowd of some 50,000 people to "close the deal for Barack Obama", on the day that early voting opened in the state. |
| Mr Obama accused the Republican camp of "ugly" campaigning, keeping his focus on the economy and those in the state who have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis. | Mr Obama accused the Republican camp of "ugly" campaigning, keeping his focus on the economy and those in the state who have been hit hard by the mortgage crisis. |
| He had been due to campaign in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Ohio on Thursday and Friday - both states that analysts say he appears likely to win. | He had been due to campaign in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Ohio on Thursday and Friday - both states that analysts say he appears likely to win. |
| Instead he will attend a campaign event in Indianapolis on Thursday before taking a flight to Honolulu. | Instead he will attend a campaign event in Indianapolis on Thursday before taking a flight to Honolulu. |
| Campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Mr Obama's wife, Michelle, would campaign for her husband in Ohio on Friday. He is expected to resume campaigning on Saturday. | Campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Mr Obama's wife, Michelle, would campaign for her husband in Ohio on Friday. He is expected to resume campaigning on Saturday. |