Democrat Barack Obama is gaining in battleground states, new polls suggest, piling pressure on his rival John McCain ahead of their second debate clash.
Mr Obama's lead has stretched to five points from three in midwestern Wisconsin, and to eight points from six in northeastern New Hampshire, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey.
The two rivals are neck-and-neck at 49% in solidly Republican North Carolina.
In Ohio, where voters have chosen the winner in the last 11 elections, Mr Obama holds a 3% lead over Mr McCain.
A Washington Post-ABC poll of Ohio voters also released today gave the Democrat a six-point edge in the midwestern state.
Mr McCain and Mr Obama have intensified their attacks leading into the second of three presidential debates tonight, this one to be staged in a 'town hall' format in which audience members get to pose questions.
The questions will be asked by members of a group of about 100 undecided Nashville voters identified by the Gallup polling company.
The participants will meet with moderator Tom Brokaw of NBC News and he will select the questioners.
Mr McCain has repeated claims about Mr Obama's track record and a refrain by his running mate Sarah Palin that Mr Obama was 'palling around with terrorists'.
'What has this man ever actually accomplished in government?' Mr McCain asked supporters yesterday.
'What does he plan for America? In short, who is the real Barack Obama? But my friends, you ask such questions, and all you get in response is another angry barrage of insults.'
Mr Obama's campaign countered that Mr McCain was ignoring the world financial crisis and attempting to divert attention from shady economic dealings in his past, particularly a massive banking scandal more than 20 years ago involving the Arizona senator.
'If John McCain wants to have a character debate, then I'm happy to have that debate because Mr McCain's record, despite him calling himself a maverick, actually shows that he is continually somebody who relies on lobbyists for big oil and big corporations," Mr Obama told CNN.
The first debate crackled with disputes over the economy, Iraq and terrorism.
Neither contender landed a knockout punch, but Mr Obama was judged the winner in snap polls.
This time, Mr McCain is promising to be even feistier as he battles to knock Mr Obama off his stride and arrest a polling slide that has accelerated since voter displeasure with Republican economic policies began to mount.
Watch the debate live from Nashville on rte.ie/live
Read more about battleground states here
