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US rivals take battle to Florida McCain attacks Obama on security
(about 2 hours later)
US presidential candidate John McCain has attacked his rival's tax policies at a rally in the key state of Florida. US presidential candidate John McCain has launched an attack on rival Barack Obama's national security credentials, as he campaigns in Florida.
Later Mr McCain is expected to make a national security statement after meeting former top military officers. In a speech in Tampa, Mr McCain made it clear he thought Mr Obama unqualified to act as Commander-in-Chief.
Mr Obama will also be in Florida later, for a rally with former President Bill Clinton, and is set to air a half-hour, prime-time advert on seven US networks. Mr Obama will also be in the key battleground state later, for a rally with former President Bill Clinton.
The Democratic presidential candidate is also set to air a half-hour, prime-time advert on seven US networks.
Six days from the 4 November election, Senator Obama leads in national and most swing-state opinion polls.Six days from the 4 November election, Senator Obama leads in national and most swing-state opinion polls.
Ahead of his briefing with former senior military officers, Mr McCain held a rally in Miami, Florida, in which he hammered home his attacks on his rival's tax policies. 'Great threats'
In a speech to supporters in Tampa, Mr McCain said of his rival: "The question is whether this is a man who has what it takes to protect America from Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda and the other great threats in the world."
By the end of the week, [John McCain] will be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten Barack Obama
"He has given no reason to answer in the affirmative".
Mr McCain's assault on his opponent's defence and security policies came after a meeting with a number of senior former military officials.
At an earlier event in Miami, Mr McCain had launched a series of attacks on his rival's tax policies.
"This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me," he said."This is the fundamental difference between Senator Obama and me," he said.
"He thinks taxes are too low, and I think that spending is too high.""He thinks taxes are too low, and I think that spending is too high."
In his national security address, the Arizona senator is expected to outline his views on threats to the nation and argue that his background as a former US Navy pilot means he is better prepared than Senator Obama to be commander-in-chief. Mr Obama, at a rally in North Carolina, poured scorn on Mr McCain's recent accusations that he is a "socialist".
'Unprecedented scope' "By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in Kindergarten," he told supporters.
Mr Obama will start the day in North Carolina, with an event in Raleigh, before heading to Sunrise, Florida, to campaign with running mate Joe Biden. The Democratic candidate is scheduled to to go to Florida later, to campaign with running mate Joe Biden, after which he will join Mr Clinton for an evening rally in Kissimmee, near Orlando, timed to coincide with the late evening news shows.
Later the Illinois senator will be joined by Mr Clinton for an evening rally in Kissimmee, near Orlando, timed to coincide with the late evening news shows. Virtual tie
A campaign adviser said the "infomercial" being shown on major networks would cut live to Mr Obama at the Florida rally. A campaign adviser said the "infomercial" being shown on major networks would cut live to Mr Obama at the first Florida rally.
The half-hour spot will be shown on CBS, Fox and NBC, at a cost of about $1m (£630,000) per network, as well as on Spanish language channel Univision, BET, MSNBC and TV One.The half-hour spot will be shown on CBS, Fox and NBC, at a cost of about $1m (£630,000) per network, as well as on Spanish language channel Univision, BET, MSNBC and TV One.
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US election polltracker in full
The latest Associated Press-GfK poll has Mr Obama and Mr McCain virtually tied in Florida and North Carolina. It has Mr Obama leading Mr McCain in Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.The latest Associated Press-GfK poll has Mr Obama and Mr McCain virtually tied in Florida and North Carolina. It has Mr Obama leading Mr McCain in Colorado, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
The latest Gallup poll has Mr Obama leading Mr McCain nationally by 50% to 43%.The latest Gallup poll has Mr Obama leading Mr McCain nationally by 50% to 43%.
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US election polltracker in full
The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that while it is not unheard of for American politicians to buy large chunks of television time - millionaire Ross Perot did it in 1992 - Mr Obama's move is unprecedented in its scope.The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says that while it is not unheard of for American politicians to buy large chunks of television time - millionaire Ross Perot did it in 1992 - Mr Obama's move is unprecedented in its scope.
Only one of the major TV networks, ABC, is not running the film - which has been weeks in the making - and Fox News has arranged for the starting time of the fifth game of the baseball World Series to be delayed to accommodate it.Only one of the major TV networks, ABC, is not running the film - which has been weeks in the making - and Fox News has arranged for the starting time of the fifth game of the baseball World Series to be delayed to accommodate it.
John McCain cannot afford to put on such a show himself, a fact that he is using to his advantage, our correspondent adds, telling supporters: "When I am president, no-one will delay the start of the World Series with an infomercial."John McCain cannot afford to put on such a show himself, a fact that he is using to his advantage, our correspondent adds, telling supporters: "When I am president, no-one will delay the start of the World Series with an infomercial."
Mr Obama will give an interview to ABC news presenter Charlie Gibson while in North Carolina and tape an appearance for Jon Stewart's Daily Show in Florida.Mr Obama will give an interview to ABC news presenter Charlie Gibson while in North Carolina and tape an appearance for Jon Stewart's Daily Show in Florida.
An estimated 2 million people in Florida have already voted early, leading to long queues at some polling places.An estimated 2 million people in Florida have already voted early, leading to long queues at some polling places.
Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist has extended polling station opening hours to try to ease the situation.Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist has extended polling station opening hours to try to ease the situation.