U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is returning his campaign's focus to the domestic economy, after a nine-day trip abroad, while his Republican rival, John McCain, has kept his attention on energy.

As the U.S. presidential race for the Democratic nomination is becoming more competitive (despite Obama's apparent win and Hillary Clinton's determination to continue to run) Barack Obama's camp just now released an email requesting people's feedback for the next phase of the campaign.

Pennsylvania, with more than 12 million residents, is next to vote on which candidate the Democratic Party should nominate for U.S. president. With its combination of rural communities, small cities and large metropolitan areas, the state is large in size and its population is diverse. Senator Barack Obama holds a slight lead in the overall national race for the party's nomination. Most opinion polls show Senator Hillary Clinton with a dwindling lead among Pennsylvania's likely primary election voters.

Democratic presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton are in Pennsylvania, which holds the party's next nomination contest April 22.

There is little doubt that the war in Iraq will be a major issue in this year's U.S. presidential campaign. But it remains to be seen whether voters will be in a mood to punish Republicans for getting the U.S. into the war in the first place, or fearful of supporting Democrats pushing for a speedy withdrawal.

U.S. presidential hopeful Barack Obama has come under criticism from his rivals for saying small-town American voters turn to guns and religion out of bitterness with job losses.

The communications director for Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton is taking over as her campaign's chief strategist. The man who previously held the job resigned Sunday over his support for an international trade deal opposed by Clinton.

Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign has removed Mark Penn from his job as chief strategist, following a controversy over his support for an international trade deal opposed by Clinton.

The city of Cincinnati, Ohio is host to 24 candidates for the what is arguably the world's top political office. As the United States presidential election draws nearer, the candidates meet to debate the issues with each other.

A new public opinion poll shows Democrat Hillary Clinton's lead over rival Barack Obama in Pennsylvania is down slightly as both contenders campaign in advance of the primary there on April 22.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has met the presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain, completing his round of talks with the candidates for the US presidency.

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton is sounding a defiant tone in response to calls from some supporters of rival Barack Obama that she quit the presidential race. Meanwhile, the presumptive Republican candidate, Senator John McCain, has begun a week-long tour aimed at reintroducing himself to American voters.