McCain running out of time and options

With one week left in a raging fight for the presidency, Republican John McCain is running out of time and options.

Mr McCain trails Democratic rival Barack Obama in national opinion polls and is struggling to defend about a dozen states won by President George W. Bush in 2004 - with the number still growing.

Many states that allow voters to cast early ballots report Democrats are turning out in bigger numbers than Republicans compared to 2004, and Mr McCain is desperately searching for a Democratic-leaning state he can steal from Mr Obama's column.

Cracks are showing in the Republican camp as aides to Mr McCain and running mate Sarah Palin point fingers at each other and brace for possible defeat in the November 4 vote.

While a victory is still possible, Mr McCain's path to the White House has become increasingly narrow and difficult.

"Mr McCain has to pull off a political miracle the likes of which has not occurred since modern political polling began," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University poll.

"The numbers are good and getting better for Mr Obama, and time is running out on Mr McCain," he said.