US election at-a-glance: 26 Aug

Hillary Clinton steals the show on the Democratic convention's second day, as she urges her party to forget past rivalries and rally behind Barack Obama. Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner delivers the keynote address of the convention, saying Mr Obama can lead the US in the "race for the future". Senior Democrats go on the attack against Republican contender John McCain. He campaigns in Arizona.

"Whether you voted for me, or voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose."
Hillary Clinton gives her backing to her former rival as she cedes the Democratic nomination

"She made the case for why we're going to be unified in November and why we're going to win this election." Mr Obama reacts positively to Mrs Clinton's endorsement

The most important contest of our generation has begun. Not the campaign for the presidency. Not the campaign for Congress. But the race for the future Mark Warner Election at-a-glance: 25 August

"If he's the answer, then the question must be ridiculous... I have a better idea. Let's give them four more months and then elect Barack Obama."
Democratic New York Governor David Paterson on John McCain's candidacy for the Republicans

"Every single night we need to be laying out why John McCain's bad for America. Bush is the worst president in our nation's history. We need to remind people every single day, and John McCain is nothing but Bush's third term."
Terry McAuliffe, Mrs Clinton's campaign manager, urges the Democrats to turn their fire on Mr McCain

"It's clear: the only thing green in John McCain's energy plan is the billions of dollars he's promising in tax cuts for oil companies. And the only thing he'll recycle is the same failed Bush approach to energy policy."
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, a Clinton supporter, lays into Mr McCain

"The most important contest of our generation has begun. Not the campaign for the presidency. Not the campaign for Congress. But the race for the future... And no American need be left out or left behind."
Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner gives the convention's keynote address

Mrs Clinton's convention speech - backing Mr Obama - is intended to make sure as many as possible of the 18 million votes she won in the primary contests stay with the Democrats.

Still, she may have her work cut out. A CNN/Opinion Research Corp poll suggests only 66% of Clinton supporters back Mr Obama, down from 75% at the end of June.

The same poll finds that American voters are evenly divided between Mr Obama and Mr McCain, at 47% each.

Meanwhile, a separate daily Gallup tracking poll gives Mr McCain a two-point edge over Mr Obama, 46% to 44% - within the margin of error, but the Republican's first lead since Mr Obama clinched the Democratic nomination in June.

Such numbers may give the Democrats - who might have expected a "bounce" from the weekend's vice-presidential announcement and their convention's dominance of the news agenda - cause for concern.

Democrats paid tribute to Mrs Clinton's valiant primary campaign with a long standing ovation

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