US election at-a-glance: 3 Nov

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

The presidential rivals criss-cross the country in a gruelling final push for votes on the last day of their marathon campaign. Trailing in the polls, John McCain sets out early in Florida and takes in several states on the way to Nevada. Barack Obama targets three states won by the Republicans in 2004 - Florida, North Carolina and Virginia. Late in the afternoon, Mr Obama announces sad news. His grandmother has died after her battle with cancer, without seeing whether her grandson becomes the 44th President of the United States.

KEY QUOTES

"We were in Republican, Republican territory. There is some energy there. There is pace on the ball."
Joe Biden tells reporters he is optimistic of Democratic successes in Republican strongholds after a rally in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

We can't afford to slow down, sit back, or let up, one minute, or one second in the next twenty-four hours

Barack Obama

US election at-a-glance: 2 Nov

"We need real change to Washington and we have to fight for it. And we will fight for it with your help...They may not know it, but the Mac is Back. We're gonna win this election."
An arm-pumping John McCain rallies supporters in Tennessee.

"Everybody is extremely happy and excited and looking forward to celebrating the day after the elections."
Malik Obama, Barack Obama's half brother, in Kogelo, Kenya.

"It was just like placing an order at a fast-food restaurant."
County registrar Neal Kelley, at a Californian drive-through voting centre.

"We can't afford to slow down, sit back, or let up, one minute, or one second in the next twenty-four hours... Not now. Not when so much is at stake."
Barack Obama, at a rally in Jacksonville, Florida.

"The rousing speeches of our opponent can fill a stadium but they cannot keep our country safe. And for a season, a man may inspire with his words, but it's been for a lifetime that John McCain has inspired with his trustworthy and heroic deeds."
Sarah Palin addresses a boisterous crowd in Ohio.

NUMBER NEWS

A USA Today/Gallup poll found likely voters nationwide favouring Mr Obama by 11 points over Mr McCain, 53-42%, with a margin of error of 2%. Other polls showed Mr Obama with a 7 or 8 percentage point lead.

Polls conducted by Quinnipiac University suggested Mr Obama is poised to win two critical swing states, Ohio and Pennsylvania, and is tied with Mr McCain in a third, Florida.

The poll showed Mr Obama leading in Ohio, 50-43, with margin of error of 2.5%. In Pennsylvania, the poll put Mr Obama ahead by 52-42.

In Florida, the poll suggested the two candidates were in a statistical dead heat - Mr Obama led Mr McCain by 47-45, with a margin of error of 2.3 percentage points.

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