US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama received a major boost to his campaign today when he won the support of former Secretary of State Colin Powell.
The backing by Mr Powell, who said he plans to vote for Mr Obama in the 4 November election, gives a boost to the foreign policy and national security credentials of the first-term Illinois senator.
Mr Obama's lead over Republican rival John McCain has dropped to 3 points, according to a Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released today. Mr Obama leads Mr McCain 48% to 45% among likely US voters, down 1 percentage point from yesterday.
However, Mr McCain is trailing by a much larger margin in campaign funds. Mr Obama's prodigious fundraising has allowed him to blanket the air waves with advertisements, sometime by a margin of 4-to-1 over McCain.
By bringing in at least $150m in September, Mr Obama more than doubled the $66m he raised in August, which had been a record. Mr McCain has accepted public financing and is limited to spending $84m for the entire campaign.
‘At least in Europe, the socialist leaders who so admire my opponent are up-front about their objectives. They use real numbers and honest language. And we should demand equal candor from Senator Obama,’ Mr McCain said today.
He was referring to Mr Obama's promise of a tax cut to families earning less than $250,000. Some workers who do not earn enough to owe federal income taxes would get a refund on money they contribute in social security payroll taxes.
The Obama campaign pointed out that the tax credit at the centre of Sen McCain's health care plan is also refundable for low-income workers.
With just over two weeks left before the election, Sen Obama leads Sen McCain in national opinion polls and in many of the toss-up states that will be crucial to the race.
The worst financial crisis in a generation has boosted Mr Obama, whose calm demeanour has won over some voters anxious about the economy.
