Los Angeles  - Barack Obama is hoping to become the first African American president of the United States in Tuesday's election, but plenty of black actors have blazed a path for him - at least in the alternative reality of Hollywood.

Fans of the hit thriller 24 can no doubt recall the ever-cool and assuring presence of President David Palmer, who was played by Dennis Haysbert.

But probably far fewer remember that Sammy Davis Jr also played a child who becomes president in the 1933 satire Rufus Jones for President.

Washington - Leaving nothing to chance and taking no vote for granted, the two US presidential candidates kept up a frenetic pace Saturday as they plunged into the last weekend of campaigning before Tuesday's election.

Democratic Party presidential candidate Barack Obama is increasing his lead over Republican rival John McCain as the campaign enters its final phase, according to a poll published Saturday by the Washington Post.

It said 53 per cent of the electorate would vote for Obama, compared to 44 per cent for McCain. Obama also led in several key states seen as decisive in the election.

As he took the stage to the applause from about 200 supporters, former Vice President Al Gore said in Florida that the choice between the two presidential candidates – Barack Obama and John McCain – is a clear one. He added that it was practically the choice between change and more of the same.  

Gore’s visit to Florida marked the first time he has hit the campaign trail for Obama after endorsing him in June, and speaking at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Washington  -
Democratic party presidential candidate Barack Obama
is increasing his lead over Republican rival John McCain as the US presidential election campaign enters its final phase, according to a poll published Saturday by the Washington Post.

It said 53 per cent of the electorate would vote for Obama, compared to 44 per cent for McCain. Obama also led in several key states seen as decisive in next Tuesday's election.

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis predicted a "comeback" in the final days, as both sides ramped up their advertising and volunteer operations.

Washington, Nov 1 : While Barack Obama and John McCain battle against each other in the run for the White House seat, a University of Missouri professor has claimed that the television ads for 2008 presidential campaign have been one of the most negative in history.

Based on candidates'' television spots along with the latest 30-minute ad by Obama, William Benoit, professor of communication in the College of Arts and Science, found that only one other campaign matched this level of negativity.

Washington, Nov 1: Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has said that his Republican rival John McCain is taking the low road to the White House, as the Democrat puts up ads in reliably Republican states.

Obama ratcheted up his rhetoric against McCain on Friday, accusing him of taking the “low road” to the White House, as the Obama campaign attempts to defend its lead in critical battlegrounds across the country.