A strong US jobs report gave Barack Obama an upbeat end to a startling week for both presidential campaigns, while Republican challenger Mitt Romney finally addressed his disparaging remarks about the 47% of Americans who do not pay federal income taxes, calling his words “just completely wrong”.

AS ONE great spectacle closed yesterday another moved inexorably towards its climax in November.

A man claiming to have a bomb walked into Hillary Clinton's campaign offices tonight and took hostages, US police and witnesses said.