Romney, Obama deadlocked heading into final week

PENSACOLA, Florida (AP) - One final jobs report before Election Day and the big storm threatening the United States East Coast loom large as President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney head into the final full week of campaigning in a race that polls show is extraordinarily close.

Democrats claim numbers are on the president's side. Republicans insist Mr Romney's got the momentum.

Both campaigns are scrambling to tweak schedules, shift manpower and pump millions of more dollars into TV ads in battleground states that will determine the outcome. Deep-pocketed outside groups are paying for direct mail, automated phone calls and other get-out-the-vote efforts. Total campaign spending has exceeded S$ 2.4 billion, making this US presidential race the most expensive in the history of electoral politics.

In pursuit of the 270 electoral votes needed for victory, each candidate is starting to make his closing arguments. The goal is to win over the narrow slice of undecided, independent voters, moderates and women in particular, and to persuade supporters to vote on Nov. 6, if not earlier in the many states where voting is already under way. Roughly one-third of the electorate will have voted before Election Day.