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| US election: Obama and Romney target key swing states | US election: Obama and Romney target key swing states |
| (3 days 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. |
| Mr Romney told a crowd in Colorado: "I have got a plan. I can't wait to get going. He [Mr Obama] is hoping we will settle, but Americans don't settle, we build, we aspire, we listen to that voice inside that says: 'We can do better'." | Mr Romney told a crowd in Colorado: "I have got a plan. I can't wait to get going. He [Mr Obama] is hoping we will settle, but Americans don't settle, we build, we aspire, we listen to that voice inside that says: 'We can do better'." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "He [Mr Obama] knows that an economy that builds the middle class and gives poorer people an honourable way to work their way into it is a lot better than four more years of trickle down," Mr Clinton told the rally. | "He [Mr Obama] knows that an economy that builds the middle class and gives poorer people an honourable way to work their way into it is a lot better than four more years of trickle down," Mr Clinton told the rally. |
| 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, says it is hard to predict accurately who might win. | The BBC's Bridget Kendall, reporting from Ohio, says it is hard to predict accurately who might win. |
| But, the Obama campaign has a new confidence in the past week, she says, which may be down to the positive response the president's handling of Sandy storm aftermath has received - a situation Mr Romney has found difficult to counter. | But, the Obama campaign has a new confidence in the past week, she says, which may be down to the positive response the president's handling of Sandy storm aftermath has received - a situation Mr Romney has found difficult to counter. |
| Tipping point? | Tipping point? |
| Correspondents say Mr Romney faces the tougher task on Tuesday, as he must win a majority of the nine most keenly contested states. | Correspondents say Mr Romney faces the tougher task 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. | But Mr Obama's opinion poll lead in all the swing states is within the margin of error. |
| 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. |
| Barack Obama campaigned hard in the state 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. | Barack Obama campaigned hard in the state 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. |
| Also on Friday, Mr Romney staged his biggest rally of the campaign so far - 18,000 people - in West Chester, joined by former primary rivals Rick Santorum and Rick Perry, as well as the defeated 2008 presidential candidate John McCain. | Also on Friday, Mr Romney staged his biggest rally of the campaign so far - 18,000 people - in West Chester, joined by former primary rivals Rick Santorum and Rick Perry, as well as the defeated 2008 presidential candidate John McCain. |
| 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 |