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US rivals keep focus on economy US rivals trade blows on economy
(about 11 hours 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. The candidates for the US presidency have attacked each other's plans for the struggling American economy as they campaign for votes in key states.
The move comes as his rival, Republican John McCain, told US media he was the candidate to listen to on the economy. In Florida, Barack Obama launched a fierce counter-attack against his Republican rival, who has accused him of embracing socialist tax policies.
He will spend the day in Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama holds his jobs summit on the second day of a tour of Florida. John McCain told US media he was the candidate to listen to on the economy.
The Democrat is to take a two-day break from campaigning later this week to visit his sick grandmother in Hawaii. He has been speaking in Pennsylvania, while Mr Obama was discussing his rescue plans with state governors.
Mr Obama 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' Tight race
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 accused his Republican rival of making "stuff" up in the last weeks of the campaign.
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 He denied Republican claims that he had attacked "Joe the plumber" - an Ohio voter who sparked a tax debate.
The chief executive of internet giant Google, Eric Schmidt, and former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker are among those due to attend. 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 "I have got nothing but love for Joe the plumber, that's why I want to give him a tax cut. John McCain is still out there, just saying this stuff, just making it up," he said.
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. Earlier, Mr Obama met 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.
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. All four states have Democratic governors and all, except Michigan, voted for President George W Bush in 2004.
Before the discussion began, Mr Obama addressed the event's audience, telling them that Mr McCain would bring America the "same failed policies" as President Bush.
Mr Obama has been mounting an intensive swing through Florida, where opinion polls suggest he and Mr McCain are in a tight race.
He will move on to Virginia and Indiana - two traditionally Republican-leaning states where he is doing well in the polls - on Wednesday and Thursday before heading to Hawaii to visit his grandmother.
'I'm the candidate'
On the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, where Mr Obama has the lead in opinion polls, Mr McCain said his rival's economic plan would result in raised taxes.
He also questioned his rival's readiness for the White House.
"We don't want a president who invites testing from the world at a time when our economy is in crisis and Americans are already fighting in two wars."
John McCain vows to "get tough" on those who caused the economic crisis
Earlier in the day he 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," he said in an interview shown on US network CBS's The Early Show.
Meanwhile, his running mate Sarah Palin has apologised for any misunderstanding over comments last week on the patriotic values of "the real America" and "pro-America areas of this great nation".
Mrs Palin denied that was her intention to imply that some parts of the country were more patriotic than others.
"I don't want that misunderstood. If that's the way it came across, I apologise," she told CNN.
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' Mr Obama 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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.