US election at-a-glance: 22 Feb

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

John McCain attacks Barack Obama for being prepared to meet Cuban leader Raul Castro "without preconditions". Mr Obama responds by accusing Mr McCain of backing "failed" US policies towards Cuba. Hillary Clinton reaffirms her commitment to allow delegations from Michigan and Florida to vote at the Democratic convention, saying she had never agreed with the decision to bar the states' delegates.

KEY QUOTES

"Meet, talk, and hope may be a sound approach in a state legislature, but it is dangerously naive in international diplomacy where the oppressed look to America for hope and adversaries wish us ill."
John McCain attacks Barack Obama's Cuba policy

What [Mr Obama's] ideas look like, when you see past the brilliant salesmanship, is boilerplate leftism Clive Crook National Journal At-a-glance: 21 Feb

"John McCain would give us four more years of the same Bush-McCain policies that have failed US interests and the Cuban people for the last 50 years."
Barack Obama

"The only agreement I entered into was not to campaign in Michigan and Florida. It had nothing to do with not seating the delegates."
Hillary Clinton

"What [Mr Obama's] ideas look like, when you see past the brilliant salesmanship, is boilerplate leftism."
Clive Crook, National Journal

NUMBER NEWS

The Democratic primary races in the key states of Texas and Ohio are tightening, according to polls published today by Rasmussen.

In Texas, the poll suggests that Barack Obama - on 44% - is now in a statistical tie with Hillary Clinton on 47%.

Mr Obama has gained six points since last week's Rasmussen poll in Texas, while Mrs Clinton has dropped seven points.

In Ohio, Mr Obama has also narrowed Mrs Clinton's lead.

He is up by three points to 40%, eight points behind Mrs Clinton on 48%.

DAILY PICTURE

Hillary Clinton's supporters are keen to get her to sign autographs - even on a baseball