A Freudian slip to rival that of Joe Biden calling Barack Obama "Barack America" in August. John McCain, fumbling his words, calls his opponent "Senator Government" before quickly correcting it to "Senator Obama". Most conservatives would go along with the original characterisation. But perhaps this is the election in which Americans will vote for the return of big goverment - and turn the ju...

John McCain is feisty and animated. He refers to his opponent as "Senator Obama". Barack Obama calls his rival "John". McCain needs to watch his devilish grin in the cutaway shots - it makes him look mean. He's looking down a lot too. He clearly doesn't like Obama. The physical difference between the two is very striking - Obama much taller and 25 years younger. McCain portraying himself...

 All very civil from the get go - which could work to Barack Obama's advantage. "How are you, John?" asks Obama. "How are you?" responds McCain, gripping his arm. McCain - he's fibbing - says in his opening remarks: "It's good to see you Senator Obama." Obama hits back: "It's wonderful to join Senator McCain again." Wonderful! Obama's remarks are punctuated with mild ...

Barack Obama's epic struggle to push healthcare reform through a reluctant US Congress looked to be on the verge of success in a milestone that eluded his Democratic predecessors and that would restore momentum to his struggling presidency

THE words were sombre, even dull, but the body language told of the hostility building between Barack Obama and John McCain in their second US presidential debate on Tuesday.

I noted at their first debate, when John McCain could not bring himself to look at Barack Obama, that the Arizona senator clearly did not like his opponent. That's certainly been born out again tonight when he snuck a glare or two but never called him "Barack" in response to Obama's "John". But in what seemed like a bad slip, he sounded very dismisive of Obama when he called him "that on...

John McCain has just launched his most direct attack yet against Barack Obama at an event in Albuquerque, New Mexico, playing on voters' fears of the unknown by asking: "Who is the real Barack Obama?" It's part of a one-two punch routine with his running mate Sarah Palin who over the weekend accused Obama of "palling around" with former Weather Underground terrorist Bill Ayers and then s...

Barack Obama's healthcare reform, the signature policy of his presidency, looks likely to clear its most formidable obstacle by Christmas.

John McCain has just spectacularly wrongfooted Barack Obama on what should be Obama's strongest ground. Faced with an apparent standoff in Washington over the "bail out" Bill which Treasury Secretary Paulson is presenting to Congress as the only salvation for the stock market, McCain has announced that he will suspend campaigning for the duration in order to return to the ...

Barack Obama will this weekend put his formidable "grassroots" election campaign machine into action to pressure Congress to move ahead with healthcare reform – his overriding legislative priority