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US election: Obama and Romney target key swing states US election: Obama and Romney target key swing states
(about 4 hours later)
The US presidential candidates have been addressing large crowds ahead of Tuesday's election.The US presidential candidates have been addressing large crowds ahead of Tuesday's election.
With polls showing Barack Obama and Mitt Romney virtually neck-and-neck, the two men are focusing their efforts on voters in key swing states.With polls showing Barack Obama and Mitt Romney virtually neck-and-neck, the two men are focusing their efforts on voters in key swing states.
In Ohio, Mr Obama said real progress had been made over the past four years, but that he wanted to continue the fight to give everyone a "fair shot".In Ohio, Mr Obama said real progress had been made over the past four years, but that he wanted to continue the fight to give everyone a "fair shot".
Mr Romney told a New Hampshire rally he would lead voters to a "better place".Mr Romney told a New Hampshire rally he would lead voters to a "better place".
Barack Obama was campaigning in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Virginia on Saturday, while Mitt Romney targeted New Hampshire, Iowa and Colorado.Barack Obama was campaigning in Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa and Virginia on Saturday, while Mitt Romney targeted New Hampshire, Iowa and Colorado.
In Virginia, the president was joined by former President Bill Clinton, who said Mr Obama had done "a good job with a bad hand" and deserved another term.
Both candidates were visiting the Iowa town of Dubuque within hours of each other.Both candidates were visiting the Iowa town of Dubuque within hours of each other.
Mr Obama, addressing crowds of supporters in Mentor, Ohio, said the election was a choice between "two different visions for America: the top down vision that crashed the economy, or a future built on a strong and growing middle class".Mr Obama, addressing crowds of supporters in Mentor, Ohio, said the election was a choice between "two different visions for America: the top down vision that crashed the economy, or a future built on a strong and growing middle class".
Republican Mr Romney, opening his three-state campaign day in New Hampshire, told supporters to "vote for love of country".Republican Mr Romney, opening his three-state campaign day in New Hampshire, told supporters to "vote for love of country".
"It is time we lead America to a better place.""It is time we lead America to a better place."
Opinion polls suggest the rivals are almost tied, although Mr Obama is slightly ahead in most swing states.Opinion polls suggest the rivals are almost tied, although Mr Obama is slightly ahead in most swing states.
The BBC's Bridget Kendall, reporting from Ohio, said that with the polls so close, it remains hard to predict accurately who might win.The BBC's Bridget Kendall, reporting from Ohio, said that with the polls so close, it remains hard to predict accurately who might win.
But, she said she had detected a sense of confidence from the Obama campaign in the past week that may be due to positive response to the president's handling of the aftermath of Storm Sandy - a situation Mr Romney has found difficult to counter.But, she said she had detected a sense of confidence from the Obama campaign in the past week that may be due to positive response to the president's handling of the aftermath of Storm Sandy - a situation Mr Romney has found difficult to counter.
Tipping point?Tipping point?
Correspondents say Mr Romney has the tougher task for victory on Tuesday, as he must win a majority of the nine most keenly contested states.Correspondents say Mr Romney has the tougher task for victory on Tuesday, as he must win a majority of the nine most keenly contested states.
But Mr Obama's opinion poll lead in all the swing states is within the margin of error and Tuesday's vote is likely to be close.But Mr Obama's opinion poll lead in all the swing states is within the margin of error and Tuesday's vote is likely to be close.
The election is run using an electoral college. Each state is given a number of votes based on its population. The candidate who wins 270 electoral college votes becomes president.The election is run using an electoral college. Each state is given a number of votes based on its population. The candidate who wins 270 electoral college votes becomes president.
Ohio is proving to be a tough battle and, with 18 college votes, could prove a tipping point.Ohio is proving to be a tough battle and, with 18 college votes, could prove a tipping point.
Mr Romney staged his biggest rally of the campaign so far - 18,000 people - in West Chester on Friday, joined by former primary rivals Rick Santorum and Rick Perry, as well as the defeated 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.Mr Romney staged his biggest rally of the campaign so far - 18,000 people - in West Chester on Friday, joined by former primary rivals Rick Santorum and Rick Perry, as well as the defeated 2008 presidential candidate John McCain.
Mr Romney said: "We're almost home. One final push will get us there. The door to a brighter future is there, it's open, it's waiting for us."Mr Romney said: "We're almost home. One final push will get us there. The door to a brighter future is there, it's open, it's waiting for us."
Mr Romney, whose main manifesto pledges are lower taxes and a $500bn federal budget cut by 2012, said the latest US jobs figures were a "sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill".Mr Romney, whose main manifesto pledges are lower taxes and a $500bn federal budget cut by 2012, said the latest US jobs figures were a "sad reminder that the economy is at a virtual standstill".
The official figures from the Labor Department figures, released on Friday, showed the economy added 171,000 new jobs in October, much more than had been expected.The official figures from the Labor Department figures, released on Friday, showed the economy added 171,000 new jobs in October, much more than had been expected.
But they also showed that the unemployment rate still rose to 7.9%, having fallen to 7.8% in September, as more workers resumed the search for jobs.But they also showed that the unemployment rate still rose to 7.9%, having fallen to 7.8% in September, as more workers resumed the search for jobs.
Barack Obama's manifesto sets out tax rises for the wealthy and more funding for job creation.Barack Obama's manifesto sets out tax rises for the wealthy and more funding for job creation.
He campaigned hard in Ohio on Friday, highlighting his decision to bail out indebted US car makers in 2009, a move that was politically unpopular but which he says helped restore the industry.He campaigned hard in Ohio on Friday, highlighting his decision to bail out indebted US car makers in 2009, a move that was politically unpopular but which he says helped restore the industry.
The president has held mid-range rallies so far but plans to increase the size over the weekend, when he will be joined by former President Bill Clinton in Virginia on Saturday and in New Hampshire on Sunday.
Mr Romney has tried to make inroads into Pennsylvania, where opinion polls suggest the Democrats lead by four to five points but which would be a crucial boost to his chances if he could secure its 20 college votes.Mr Romney has tried to make inroads into Pennsylvania, where opinion polls suggest the Democrats lead by four to five points but which would be a crucial boost to his chances if he could secure its 20 college votes.
The Republican challenger has also wooed Michigan and Minnesota, forcing the Democrats into late advertising there.The Republican challenger has also wooed Michigan and Minnesota, forcing the Democrats into late advertising there.
Early voting has been a key focus of this presidential election - some 25 million voters have already cast ballots in 34 states and the District of Columbia.Early voting has been a key focus of this presidential election - some 25 million voters have already cast ballots in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Some states have released the affiliation of early voters, giving Mr Obama an edge in Florida, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, while Mr Romney is favoured in Colorado.Some states have released the affiliation of early voters, giving Mr Obama an edge in Florida, Iowa, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio, while Mr Romney is favoured in Colorado.
However, the figures suggest Mr Obama does not have the lead he had over John McCain four years ago.However, the figures suggest Mr Obama does not have the lead he had over John McCain four years ago.
Nevertheless, the Obama team has released data showing that two-thirds of those who have voted early are women, young people, blacks and Hispanics - demographics the Democrats say favour them.Nevertheless, the Obama team has released data showing that two-thirds of those who have voted early are women, young people, blacks and Hispanics - demographics the Democrats say favour them.
The BBC will be providing full online live results of the US presidential election on 6 November. More details here The BBC will be providing full online live results of the US presidential election on 6 November. More details here
Are you a voter in one of the swing states? Send us your comments on the election campaign using the form below.Are you a voter in one of the swing states? Send us your comments on the election campaign using the form below.