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| US presidential votes wide open | US presidential votes wide open |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US presidential hopefuls are preparing for the Republican primary in South Carolina and caucuses for both parties in the Western desert state of Nevada. | US presidential hopefuls are preparing for the Republican primary in South Carolina and caucuses for both parties in the Western desert state of Nevada. |
| Both races are wide open, with national polls giving Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain small leads. | Both races are wide open, with national polls giving Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain small leads. |
| On the eve of the votes, all candidates campaigned on the economy, as President George W Bush called for emergency measures to fend off a recession. | On the eve of the votes, all candidates campaigned on the economy, as President George W Bush called for emergency measures to fend off a recession. |
| The ballots precede Super Tuesday, when 22 states hold polls on 5 February. | The ballots precede Super Tuesday, when 22 states hold polls on 5 February. |
| Millions excluded | Millions excluded |
| In the Democratic race, the Nevada caucuses looks set to be an evenly-matched struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with opinion polls putting the rivals almost neck-and-neck. | In the Democratic race, the Nevada caucuses looks set to be an evenly-matched struggle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, with opinion polls putting the rivals almost neck-and-neck. |
| On Friday, Mrs Clinton criticised President Bush's proposed emergency package of tax relief amounting to nearly $150bn (£75bn) to kick-start the economy. | On Friday, Mrs Clinton criticised President Bush's proposed emergency package of tax relief amounting to nearly $150bn (£75bn) to kick-start the economy. |
| As a Republican, I stand before you embarrassed - embarrassed that we let that spending get out of control Senator John McCain class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7197450.stm">Nevada's Latino vote | |
| She said the plan excluded millions of the neediest Americans - senior citizens, Hispanics and blacks. | She said the plan excluded millions of the neediest Americans - senior citizens, Hispanics and blacks. |
| Mrs Clinton has backing from influential politicians in Nevada's Hispanic community, while Mr Obama has the support of a powerful local union organisation. | Mrs Clinton has backing from influential politicians in Nevada's Hispanic community, while Mr Obama has the support of a powerful local union organisation. |
| Rival John Edwards echoed her criticisms, saying: "The economic damage done by Bush and [Vice President Dick] Cheney is deep and long-lasting, and the temporary tax cuts he proposes will not solve it alone." | Rival John Edwards echoed her criticisms, saying: "The economic damage done by Bush and [Vice President Dick] Cheney is deep and long-lasting, and the temporary tax cuts he proposes will not solve it alone." |
| Both candidates were also quick to condemn Mr Obama's praise of former President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, accusing him of betraying the economic interests of the Democratic base of organised labour. | Both candidates were also quick to condemn Mr Obama's praise of former President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, accusing him of betraying the economic interests of the Democratic base of organised labour. |
| Mr Obama had earlier said "Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time" and that "Reagan changed the trajectory of America". | Mr Obama had earlier said "Republicans were the party of ideas for a pretty long chunk of time" and that "Reagan changed the trajectory of America". |
| 'Embarrassed' | 'Embarrassed' |
| The Republicans also focused on the economy in their final campaigning in South Carolina, which is losing manufacturing jobs. | The Republicans also focused on the economy in their final campaigning in South Carolina, which is losing manufacturing jobs. |
| Mr McCain partly blamed his party for America's woes, saying to voters: "As a Republican, I stand before you embarrassed. Embarrassed that we let that spending get out of control." | Mr McCain partly blamed his party for America's woes, saying to voters: "As a Republican, I stand before you embarrassed. Embarrassed that we let that spending get out of control." |
| Republican Mitt Romney has high hopes in NevadaAccording to opinion polls, Senator McCain, who won New Hampshire, has a narrow lead in the southern state, which he lost in 2000 to US President George W Bush. | Republican Mitt Romney has high hopes in NevadaAccording to opinion polls, Senator McCain, who won New Hampshire, has a narrow lead in the southern state, which he lost in 2000 to US President George W Bush. |
| In every presidential contest since 1980, the Republican voters of South Carolina have chosen the candidate that has eventually become the party's White House nominee. | In every presidential contest since 1980, the Republican voters of South Carolina have chosen the candidate that has eventually become the party's White House nominee. |
| This time, the race appears to be between two of the three men who have already won a primary - John McCain and Mike Huckabee, with the third - Mitt Romney - not far behind. | This time, the race appears to be between two of the three men who have already won a primary - John McCain and Mike Huckabee, with the third - Mitt Romney - not far behind. |
| Correspondents say the former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, is hoping for the support of the 53% of registered Republicans, who describe themselves as white evangelicals - a group that was instrumental in his victory in the Iowa caucuses last month. | Correspondents say the former Arkansas governor, Mike Huckabee, is hoping for the support of the 53% of registered Republicans, who describe themselves as white evangelicals - a group that was instrumental in his victory in the Iowa caucuses last month. |
| However, Mr Huckabee has been under fire for remarks apparently equating same-sex marriage with bestiality. | However, Mr Huckabee has been under fire for remarks apparently equating same-sex marriage with bestiality. |
| Meanwhile, Mitt Romney, fresh from victory in Michigan, has focused on Nevada, where he is predicted to win - although pollsters have warned of the difficulties of polling in the state. | Meanwhile, Mitt Romney, fresh from victory in Michigan, has focused on Nevada, where he is predicted to win - although pollsters have warned of the difficulties of polling in the state. |
| Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has virtually ignored the early races to concentrate on the bigger prize of Florida at the end of the month. | Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has virtually ignored the early races to concentrate on the bigger prize of Florida at the end of the month. |
| The Democrats will hold their primary in South Carolina on 26 January. | The Democrats will hold their primary in South Carolina on 26 January. |