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US hopefuls target crucial West US hopefuls target crucial West
(30 minutes later)
White House hopeful Barack Obama is resuming his campaign targeting states on the US West that could be crucial in the 4 November presidential vote. White House hopeful Barack Obama is resuming his campaign targeting states in the US West that could be crucial in the 4 November presidential vote.
After a two-day break to visit his ailing grandmother, the Democratic candidate is to hold two rallies in Nevada and then head to New Mexico.After a two-day break to visit his ailing grandmother, the Democratic candidate is to hold two rallies in Nevada and then head to New Mexico.
Republican rival John McCain is also campaigning in New Mexico, one of a few states won by Republicans in 2004. Republican rival John McCain is also campaigning in New Mexico, a state won by the Republicans in 2004.
Polls have put Mr Obama ahead, with just a week of full campaigning left. With just a week of full campaigning left, polls put Mr Obama ahead overall.
But the Obama team remains suitably cautious, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington. A veteran Democratic Party pollster, Stan Greenburg, said an earthquake election was in the offing after which nothing will look the same. But the Obama team remains suitably cautious, says the BBC's Justin Webb in Washington.
A veteran Democratic Party pollster, Stan Greenburg, said an earthquake election was in the offing after which nothing will look the same.
Tax clashTax clash
Mr Obama spent Thursday and Friday with his grandmother as he spoke of concerns that she might not live until election day.Mr Obama spent Thursday and Friday with his grandmother as he spoke of concerns that she might not live until election day.
Mr McCain spent Friday in Colorado, which along with Nevada and New Mexico are considered target states.Mr McCain spent Friday in Colorado, which along with Nevada and New Mexico are considered target states.
All three states went to President George W Bush in 2004 with narrow Republican majorities.All three states went to President George W Bush in 2004 with narrow Republican majorities.
Mr Obama seems to be building up momentum in New Mexico, the US state with the highest proportion of Hispanic voters.Mr Obama seems to be building up momentum in New Mexico, the US state with the highest proportion of Hispanic voters.
Mr McCain criticised Mr Obama while campaigning in Denver on Friday, saying he would put the middle class "through the wringer" by raising taxes.Mr McCain criticised Mr Obama while campaigning in Denver on Friday, saying he would put the middle class "through the wringer" by raising taxes.
John McCain is also holding rallies in New Mexico "The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control in Washington," Mr McCain said.John McCain is also holding rallies in New Mexico "The answer to a slowing economy is not higher taxes, but that is exactly what is going to happen when the Democrats have total control in Washington," Mr McCain said.
Mr Obama has proposed a tax increase on the 5% of taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year and advocates tax cuts for those who make less.Mr Obama has proposed a tax increase on the 5% of taxpayers who make more than $250,000 a year and advocates tax cuts for those who make less.
Mr Obama has said his rival's tax plans favour wealthy corporations.Mr Obama has said his rival's tax plans favour wealthy corporations.
The Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin took a break from campaigning in Pennsylvania and Missouri on Friday to testify at an Alaska Personnel Board investigation into allegations she abused her power as Alaskan governor.The Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin took a break from campaigning in Pennsylvania and Missouri on Friday to testify at an Alaska Personnel Board investigation into allegations she abused her power as Alaskan governor.
The governor is accused of violating ethics rules when she fired the state's top law enforcement official, Walt Monegan, allegedly because he refused to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper.The governor is accused of violating ethics rules when she fired the state's top law enforcement official, Walt Monegan, allegedly because he refused to sack her former brother-in-law, a state trooper.
Mrs Palin seems at the moment to be unable to shake off her bad press - the news stories about lavish spending on her wardrobe and make-up cost of $150,000 drowning out the messages she would prefer to stress, our correspondent says.Mrs Palin seems at the moment to be unable to shake off her bad press - the news stories about lavish spending on her wardrobe and make-up cost of $150,000 drowning out the messages she would prefer to stress, our correspondent says.
In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she said there was gender bias operating as male candidates rarely came under such scrutiny.In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she said there was gender bias operating as male candidates rarely came under such scrutiny.
"It's kind of painful to be criticised for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported," she said."It's kind of painful to be criticised for something when all the facts are not out there and are not reported," she said.
"Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are.""Oh, if people only knew how frugal we are."