US rivals back on campaign trail

Both Kerry and Bush are now vying for votes in swing states

US President George W Bush and his Democratic challenger John Kerry have begun the final weeks of campaigning after their third and last TV debate.

The candidates are setting their sights on the battleground state of Nevada, after clashing over security and domestic policy in the Arizona debate.

The two men revealed sharp differences over taxes, jobs and health care but neither was seen as an outright winner.

It was their last chance to address TV audiences before the 2 November poll.

There's a mainstream in American politics and you sit right on the far-left bank George W Bush on John Kerry Key quotes Full transcript (118K) Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader Download the reader here

Two US instant polls showed that Mr Kerry won the debate, while a third labelled it a tie.

But that said nothing about the debate's impact on the race to secure the 270 electoral college votes to win the White House, analysts say.

Several US polls have shown that the two rivals are running neck-and-neck, and during their non-stop campaigning in the last three weeks will concentrate on a dozen or so battleground states.

Senator Kerry arrived in Las Vegas late on Wednesday where he was due to address the American Association of Retired Persons - an influential group representing senior citizens.

His next campaign stop was scheduled in Iowa - another swing state which analysts believe he must take to claim the presidency.

Mr Bush was also due in Las Vegas later on Thursday for a series of campaign stops, including a rally with Republican governors.

He will then move on to another key state, Oregon.

Competing claims

The 90-minutes debate at Arizona State University was the last face-to-face meeting for Mr Bush and Mr Kerry before the election.

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It was scheduled to address mainly domestic issues, which have been often overshadowed in the campaign by the conflict in Iraq and homeland security amid Mr Bush's war on terror.

Mr Kerry said that five million Americans had lost health insurance coverage during Mr Bush's time in the White House, meaning many could not afford to be treated.

"The president has turned his back on the wellness of America, and there is no system and it's starting to fall apart," he said.

Mr Bush hit back with what has become his chief attack line of recent weeks, that Mr Kerry is a lifelong liberal who would raise taxes and government spending.

"There's a mainstream in American politics and you sit right on the far-left bank," he told his opponent.

The two candidates also returned to homeland security and the war on terror that have become the central themes of this year's campaign.

'Cheap trick'

They also spoke about gay marriage and abortion rights.

Election poll tracker

Both stated that marriage should be preserved for heterosexual couples, but gave different answers when asked whether homosexuality was a choice.

"I don't know," said Mr Bush.

Mr Kerry referred to Vice President Dick Cheney's gay daughter, saying it was not a choice.

Lynne Cheney, the vice president's wife, described later Mr Kerry's remarks as "a cheap and tawdry political trick".