US election at-a-glance: 24 Oct

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

Barack Obama continues his time off the campaign trail with his ill grandmother in Hawaii. Sarah Palin answers questions as part of the second inquiry into her alleged abuse of power as governor of Alaska. A story about a McCain volunteer being violently attacked is revealed to be false.

KEY QUOTES

"I know Halloween is coming. But John McCain as the candidate of change? That's one costume the American people aren't going to buy."
Joe Biden

Senator John McCain of Arizona has retreated farther and farther to the fringe of American politics

New York Times

US election at-a-glance: 23 Oct

"I think the dynamics would be different in Pennsylvania [if John McCain had picked me as his running-mate]. I think we'd be foolish not to admit it publicly."
Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge

"As for furtherance in a political career, I'm not even thinking about that."
Sarah Palin responds to those who accused her of positioning herself for a run in 2012

"We believe [Barack Obama] has the will and the ability to forge the broad political consensus that is essential to finding solutions to this nation's problems... Senator John McCain of Arizona has retreated farther and farther to the fringe of American politics, running a campaign on partisan division, class warfare and even hints of racism."
The New York Times endorses Mr Obama

"The sun came up this morning, and just as expectedly the New York Times endorsed Barack Obama."
Joe Pounder, McCain aide

NUMBER NEWS

The daily tracking polls continue to suggest that Barack Obama holds a high single-digit lead over John McCain.

Filings made public by the Federal Election Commission today lay bare the candidates' financial positions as they head into the final stretch of the election.

The records reveal that Mr Obama's fundraising slowed down in October. Having taken $150m in September, the Democratic White House hopeful took $36m in the first two weeks of this month.

John McCain has not been allowed to raise any money, because he accepted $84m in federal funding at the beginning of September.

Mr Obama's fundraising edge allowed him to outspend Mr McCain in the first half of October - in the first 15 days of this month, he and the Democratic National Committee spent a combined $117.6m. Mr McCain's combined total with the Republican National Committee was just $67m.

And Mr Obama and the DNC also have more cash on hand than the Republicans going into the final three weeks of the campaign - $95.7m to $84.4m.

DAILY PICTURE