Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008

    BEIJING, Oct. 21 -- On the same day as Powell's endorsement, Barack Obama's campaign announced it raised a record 150 million dollars last month dealing a another blow to rival John McCain's campaign.

    With just two weeks to go, both candidates are making their final case to undecided voters.

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) arrives at a campaign rally in Tampa, Florida October 20, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Commenting on General Colin Powell's endorsement, Barack Obama told supporters on Sunday that he was quite honored.

    In the midst of economic turmoil, Obama leads in national polls and in many battleground states. He sought to keep economic problems in the spotlight.

    Barack Obama, Democrat Presidential Candidate, said, "For the last eight years we've tried it John McCain's way, we've tried it George Bush's way. We've given more and more with the most and hoped that prosperity would trickle down on everyone else. And guess what? It didn't work. So it's time to try something new. It's time to grow this economy from the bottom up. It's time to invest in the middle class again."

    McCain was spending the day in Ohio, a state he must win if he is to be president.

    No Republican has won the White House without winning Ohio and it was the state that put Bush over the top in 2004. McCain again attacked Obama for a plan to spread wealth instead of growing wealth.

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) speaks to suppporters during a rally in Westerville, Ohio October 19, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    John McCain, Republican Presidential Candidate, said, "After months of campaign trail eloquence, we've finally learned what Senator Obama's economic goal is. He told Joe he wants to quote, 'spread the wealth around'. Spread the wealth around. He believes in redistributing the wealth - not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs and opportunities for all Americans. Senator Obama is more interested in controlling who gets your piece of the pie than he is in growing the pie."

    A poll released on Sunday shows Obama's lead over McCain has dropped to 3 points. Obama leads McCain 48 to 45 percent, down 1 percentage point from Saturday.

    (Source: cctv.com)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Powell endorses Obama

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks during a taping of "Meet the Press" at NBC in Washington October 19, 2008.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."

    "He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," Powell, a Republican, said on NBC's "Meet the Press."  Full story

Obama raises record $150 mln in September

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. presidential Democratic nominee Barack Obama's campaign announced Sunday he raised 150 million U.S. dollars in donations in September, setting a new high-water mark in campaign fundraising.

    In a campaign video, Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said a record 632,000 new donors gave to the campaign, with the average contribution under 100 dollars. Full story