US election at-a-glance: 28 Oct

DAY IN A NUTSHELL

John McCain is forced to cancel an outdoor rally in Pennsylvania because of rain, although an Obama rally in the state goes ahead despite the weather. Joe the Plumber officially endorses John McCain.

KEY QUOTES

"The truth is, John McCain's health care plan is radical, it's unaffordable, and it's not the change we need right now."
Barack Obama

Despite what Palin and McCain suggest, an Obama victory would not herald the dawning of a glorious social democratic moment

Ezra Klein
American Prospect

US election at-a-glance: 27 Oct

"[The final stretch of the camapign] reminds me very much of the early primaries, New Hampshire, Florida, and other places, where we were running behind and we sensed this momentum building. And that isn't just my impression, that's what our pollsters are showing, and that's what even some of the pundits are saying."
John McCain

"If we're overconfident, I don't know why we're working so hard."
Steve Hildebrand, Obama strategist

"In the closing weeks of this election, John McCain and Sarah Palin are getting hosed in the press... McCain's campaign is going quite poorly and Obama's is going well. Imposing artificial balance on this reality would be a bias of its own."
John Harris and Jim Vandehei, Politico

"Despite what Palin and McCain suggest, an Obama victory would not herald the dawning of a glorious social democratic moment. Rather, an Obama win would elevate the mainstream of the Democratic Party, which is rather what you'd expect from the nominee who was embraced by the non-Clinton side of the party establishment."
Ezra Klein, American Prospect

NUMBER NEWS

John McCain narrowly improves his position in the national tracking polls, although Barack Obama still maintains a hefty advantage, with leads ranging from four points (Zogby) to eight points (Hotline/Diageo).

The most notable statewide poll is from Georgia, where Insider Advantage gives Mr McCain a lead of just one point.

A Mason-Dixon poll from North Carolina also has the candidates effectively tied, while a survey of Arkansas voters suggests that Mr McCain has a 10-point lead.

DAILY PICTURE