Ministers tap into Obama poll success

British ministers were flying to the US this weekend for the Democratic Party convention in Denver, hoping to tap into the expertise of Barack Obama's barnstorming campaign.

Skills minister David Lammy and Ed Miliband, the Cabinet Office minister, want to study the team's use of the internet to galvanise activists and raise small donations.

Mr Obama was due to make an announcement on the appointment of his running mate today. He and his number two, who will become vicepresident if he wins the November election, will appear together for the first time at a rally in Illinois tomorrow. Senator Joe Biden, a veteran with crucial foreign policy experience, was the most hotly tipped.

Republican candidate John McCain yesterday could not tell an interviewer how many homes he owns.

Mr McCain's staff later said that the Republican contender owned "at least four" houses, although Mr Obama claimed that Mr McCain actually owned seven.

The row started when a video was posted on the internet accusing Mr McCain of enjoying a lavish lifestyle. The McCain camp hit back, saying that a convicted criminal had helped Mr Obama to buy his home.

During an interview with reporters, Mr McCain was asked how many houses he owned. "I think - I'll have my staff get to you," he said. "It's condominiums where... I'll have them get to you."