US election at-a-glance: 8 Sept

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

John McCain and Sarah Palin make appearances in Missouri, Illinois and Ohio, while Democratic hopefuls Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaign separately, Mr Obama in Michigan and Mr Biden in Wisconsin and Iowa. Hillary Clinton stumps for Mr Obama in Florida. Mr Obama's wife Michelle appears on Ellen DeGeneres's chat show and the New York Post endorses John McCain.

KEY QUOTES

"Governor Palin learned that earmarks are bad and she did say, we don't need our Bridge to Nowhere."
John McCain

Mr McCain’s TV advert – 'Original Mavericks'

"She was for it until everybody started raising a fuss about it and she started running for governor and then suddenly she was against it. I mean you can't just make stuff up... The American people aren't stupid."
Barack Obama questions Mr McCain's version of events

"In Iraq change happened, and that's a great thing for America, Senator."
Sarah Palin doesn't think Barack Obama's Iraq policy is "change you can believe in"

"By the time the debate takes place, we'll have a better sense of her other than someone who appears - what she says - appear to be some fairly extreme views."
Joe Biden on Sarah Palin

"No way, no how, no McCain, no Palin."
Hillary Clinton augments a line from her convention speech

"McCain's lifelong record of service to America, his battle-tested courage, unshakeable devotion to principle and clear grasp of the dangers and opportunities now facing the nation stand in dramatic contrast to the tissue-paper-thin resume of his Democratic opponent, freshman Senator Barack Obama."
Rupert Murdoch's New York Post endorses John McCain

NUMBER NEWS

Both daily tracking polls now show a lead for John McCain: Rasmussen has him ahead by one point, while Gallup gives him a five-point lead.

Polls published by CBS, CNN and the Washington Post/ABC also show movement in John McCain's favour.

CBS, which had given Mr Obama an eight-point lead in its last poll, gives Mr McCain a two point lead.

CNN's poll suggests the two candidates are tied, having given Mr Obama a one-point lead in its most recent poll.

And ABC/Washington Post's survey indicates that Mr Obama holds a one-point lead, down from six points in its previous poll.

All of the polls published since the end of the Republican convention suggest that Mr McCain is enjoying a bounce, just as Mr Obama did after his convention.

DAILY PICTURE

Michelle Obama shows off her dancing skills with chat-show host Ellen DeGeneres, just as her husband did when he appeared on the show