LAS VEGAS - Democrat Barack Obama's final rally of the marathon presidential campaign on Monday will be in the battleground state of Virginia, following stops in Florida and North Carolina, aides said.

Before heading to Chicago for Tuesday's election, Mr Obama will campaign onMonday in Jacksonville, Florida and then Charlotte, North Carolina before climaxing with an evening rally in the Manassas Park area of Virginia near Washington.

All three states voted for President George W. Bush last time but are prime hunting ground for the Democrat as he bids to defeat Republican John McCain and become America's first black commander-in-chief.

On Saturday the Illinois senator, 47, headed from Nevada to Colorado, another Republican state in 2004 which polls show trending in his direction, before an evening rally in the midwestern bellwether of Missouri.

He and wife Michelle were then set to campaign in Ohio on Sunday for three events including a rally with rocker Bruce Springsteen before what is expected to be an enormous crowd in Cleveland. -- AFP