Vice-President Al Gore and Governor George Bush have embarked on intensive campaigns in states which they believe will be decisive in the countdown to the presidential election on November 7th.
Mr Bush is believed to have edged ahead in one of the closest elections in 50 years but Mr Gore has overtaken his rival once before, last August, and aims to do so again with two weeks to go. The Gore campaign is unleashing a TV advertising blitz in the contentious states, hammering away at Mr Bush's position on social security, Medicare and tax cuts where he is seen to be vulnerable, especially with elderly voters.
Mr Gore who insists "the race is a dead heat", has also begun what he calls a "kitchen table" campaign where he is meeting families in their homes to discuss the issues which affect them most in their daily lives. He also plans a series of "major policy" speeches on an almost daily basis, mainly on economic themes.
Mr Gore campaigned yesterday in the north-west states of Washington and Oregon where the Green Party candidate, Mr Ralph Nader, emphasising environmental issues, has been attracting Democratic voters away from the Vice-President. The Washington Post has estimated that "Nader has attracted enough support in six traditionally Democratic states to give Bush a chance to win and collect their 61 electoral votes.
In Oregon, Mr Gore told a meeting at Portland State University that "nowhere are the differences between Governor Bush and me clearer than on the issue of the environment. For 24 years now I have taken on the big polluters. I have fought for clean air and clean water, the protection of our ancient forests."
Mr Bush, meanwhile, has launched his "Barnstorm for Reform" campaign which has 28 Republican governors spreading out in a whirlwind campaign through 48 cities in 25 states. Mr Bush will concentrate on swing voters and on states which are traditionally Democratic but are now seen as leaning towards him.
A new poll in yesterday's New York Times has Mr Bush leading Mr Gore by 44 per cent to 42 per cent, which is regarded as a statistical tie within the margin of error. The survey shows that voters are somewhat more favourably disposed towards Mr Bush after the three presidential debates but have more confidence that Mr Gore has the ability "to deal wisely with an international crisis".
On "strong qualities of leadership", Mr Bush leads narrowly by 70 per cent to 68 per cent. But 43 per cent "feel uneasy" about both candidates.
President Clinton is beginning to intervene in the campaign to support Mr Gore and attack the policies of Mr Bush while campaigning for his wife, Hillary, in New York at the weekend.