Obama, who was also campaigning in North Carolina and Virginia, said in Jacksonville: "I have just one word for you, Florida: Tomorrow."

"In these last 36 hours, we can't afford to slow down or sit back or let up, not one minute, not one hour, not one second. Not any time in the next thirty six hours," he said.

He said McCain could point to a few instances where he broke with Bush but "when it comes to the economy, when it comes to the central issue of this election, the plain truth is that John McCain has stood with George Bush every step of the way."

McCain, faced with the herculean task of extending Republican rule of the White House for a third straight term with the current incumbent's unpopularity draped on his shoulders, was hoping for a miracle finish.

'MEASURING THE DRAPES'

"The pundits have written us off just like they've done before and my opponent is measuring the drapes in the White House," McCain told a spirited rally in Tampa, Florida. "The pundits may not know it and the Democrats may not know it, but 'the Mac' is back. We're going to win this election."

McCain, 72, who would be the oldest person ever elected to a first presidential term, accused Obama of wanting to raise taxes to pursue liberal policies.

"He's in the far left lane of American politics and he's stuck there," McCain said in Blountville, Tennessee. He had stops planned in Pennsylvania, Indiana and New Mexico as well.

... contd.