US rivals blitz Iowa battleground

George W Bush went to three states, all of which he lost in 2000

US presidential candidates George W Bush and John Kerry have given rival speeches within a few dozen miles of each other in northern Iowa.

Mr Kerry focused on the war in Iraq while Mr Bush covered a wide range of issues in his usual campaign speech.

With national polls showing support almost equally split, both sides are focusing on states that could be won by either party and may decide the victor.

Mr Bush lost Iowa in 2000 by 4,144 votes from more than 1.2 million cast.

While Iowa has only seven votes in the US electoral college - compared with Ohio's 20, Pennsylvania's 21 and Florida's 27 - they could get be vital if the contest to get the 270 votes needed win the White House is as close as predicted.

A majority of opinion polls show Mr Bush ahead in the country as a whole, though others suggest Mr Kerry leads in the key battleground states.

Personal attacks

Both Mr Kerry and Mr Bush have already made several campaigning visits to Iowa, and correspondents say more can be expected there - as well as in Florida and Pennsylvania - as campaign managers focus their time and effort on the most crucial areas.

IOWA BATTLEGROUND Seven electoral college votes Won narrowly by Gore in 2000 2004 outcome too close to call Map: Key states Q&A: Electoral College State profile: Iowa

A recent poll of Iowa voters by the American Research Group found the two main contenders exactly tied, on 47% each, with 2% of people favouring third-party candidate Ralph Nader and 4% undecided.

The candidates used their rallies to question each other's leadership qualities in what observers say is becoming an increasing bitter last stage of campaigning.

Mr Kerry told supporters in Waterloo, Iowa: "The president says he's a leader. Well, Mr President, look behind you. There's hardly anyone there."

He accused Mr Bush of being in denial about the continuing violence in Iraq, but said he would tackle the problems.

"America must fight and win two wars - the war in Iraq and the war on terror. President Bush likes to confuse the two," he said.

"He claims that Iraq is the centrepiece of the war on terror. In fact, Iraq was a profound diversion from that war and the battle against the enemy. It was a profound diversion from the focus on Osama Bin Laden and al-Qaeda and the other terrorists that threaten us."

Mr Kerry says that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, now seen as a terror leader in Iraq, was operating in a "no-man's land" before the war in Iraq and had taken advantage of a power vacuum left by the US to establish himself.

Three-state day

But Mr Bush hit back in his speech, saying Zarqawi's attacks on Iraqis and foreigners showed that the conflict in Iraq was a necessary part of the war on terror.

Both Kerry and Bush are campaigning almost non-stop

"Iraq is no diversion, but a central commitment in the war on terror, a place where our military is confronting and defeating terrorists overseas so we do not have to face them here at home," he said in Mason City, Iowa.

"You cannot lead our nation to decisive victory on which the security of every American family depends if you do not see the true dangers of a post-September 11 world."

Mr Bush went on from that rally to campaign in the neighbouring states of Minnesota and Wisconsin, both of which he also lost narrowly in 2000.

Mr Kerry was to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.