US Election at a glance: 4 Oct 2010
Day in a Nutshell
The Democratic National Committee says it raised more than $16m in September - its best month for fundraising this year.
The media unearthed more old utterances from the maverick Delaware Republican Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell, and several new campaign ads suggested campaigns all over the country are hotting up.
Quote - Unquote
"It's 30 flat and uninspiring seconds of the president plopped in a chair, against a backdrop that's a cross between a funeral parlour and a suite at the Westin with a flag stuck in the corner" - Adam Hanft on President Obama's first televised endorsement of the campaign.
"If he lied about Vietnam, what else is he lying about" - narrator in ad by Republican Connecticut candidate for Senate Linda McMahon attacking rival Richard Blumenthal.
"[China has a] carefully thought out and strategic plan to take over America" - comments made by Ms O'Donnell in 2006 make a sudden return and are publicised by Politico and others.
"I'm the candidate who will spend less, tax less, and borrow less - to put Illinois back to work. I'm Mark Kirk and I approved this message because our youngest Americans... deserve better." A new radio advert from Mark Kirk, Republican Senate candidate, Illinois.
Another key number was unearthed by the Washington Post. Analysis by the paper found that interest groups were spending five times as much on this election than the last mid-terms in 2006. The vast majority is being spent by conservatives, it is noted.
But there was good news for at least one Democrat, as a poll by Public Policy Polling suggested Mr Blumenthal had a double digit lead in the race for the Connecticut Senate seat.