John McCain is hoping for an upset in the polls

US candidates reach endgame

US candidates reach endgame

Both US presidential candidates are making their final pitches to the American electorate as the campaign reaches its endgame.

Republican John McCain is due to address supporters at seven states on Monday, including Florida and his home state of Arizona.

His Democratic rival Barack Obama meanwhile is due to travel to Florida, North Carolina and Virginia – all three of which were won by the Republicans in 2004.

The Illinois senator has held a consistent lead in the polls over the last few weeks but there are signs that Mr McCain is closing the gap.

A Mason-Dixon survey in Ohio – the state which gave George Bush victory in 2004 – shows Mr McCain holds a two-point advantage.

Speaking on Sunday, the 72-year-old Vietnam veteran told supporters in Wallingford, Pennsylvania: “There are just two days left, two days.

“We are a couple of points behind in Pennsylvania. The pundits have written us off just like before, but, my friends, the Mac is back.”

Mr Obama, meanwhile, told some 60,000 supporters at a rally in Columbus: “In two days you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election.”

Some 31 states have been able to vote ahead of Tuesday’s election, either in person or by mail-in ballot.

CNN claims that by Friday more than 23 million ballots had been collected in 25 of the states.

There have reports of huge queues, however, with some suggesting people have been forced to wait for between two-and-a-half and six hours to vote.