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McCain attacks Obama on security Obama to air half-hour TV advert
(about 3 hours later)
US presidential candidate John McCain has launched an attack on rival Barack Obama's national security credentials, as he campaigns in Florida. US presidential candidate Barack Obama is to air a half-hour, prime-time advert on seven US TV channels.
In a speech in Tampa, Mr McCain made it clear he thought Mr Obama unqualified to act as Commander-in-Chief. The move comes after his Republican rival John McCain, campaigning in Florida, launched an attack on Mr Obama's national security credentials.
Mr Obama will also be in the key battleground state later, for a rally with former President Bill Clinton. In a speech in Tampa, Mr McCain made it clear he thought Mr Obama unqualified to act as commander-in-chief.
The Democratic presidential candidate is also set to air a half-hour, prime-time advert on seven US networks. Mr Obama is also in the key battleground state, for a rally later with former President Bill Clinton.
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.
'Great threats' Unprecedented
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." Mr Obama's half-hour TV 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.
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 During one portion of the spot, Mr Obama will speak live from a rally in Florida.
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.
Earlier on Wednesday, in a speech to supporters in Tampa, Mr McCain questioned his rival's security credentials, saying: "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."
"He has given no reason to answer in the affirmative"."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.Mr McCain's assault on his opponent's defence and security policies came after a meeting with a number of senior former military officials.
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US election polltracker in full
At an earlier event in Miami, Mr McCain had launched a series of attacks on his rival's tax policies.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."
Mr Obama, at a rally in North Carolina, poured scorn on Mr McCain's recent accusations that he is a "socialist". Mr Obama, at an event in North Carolina, poured scorn on Mr McCain's recent accusations that he is a "socialist".
"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."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.
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. After his TV spot airs, the Democratic candidate is scheduled to join 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 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 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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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.
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.
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.