Presidential hopeful Barack Obama picked up momentum in the tight Democratic race today as he got the support of an influential backer of rival Hillary Clinton and another prominent civil rights leader openly discussed a switch.

THE US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton, yesterday announced he will step down when his temporary appointment expires within weeks after he failed to win confirmation for his role from the Senate.

John Bolton today said he still hopes the US Senate will vote this year to confirm him as US ambassador to the United Nations and he predicted he would win despite unwavering opposition from Democrats.

DEMOCRATS challenged Republicans for control of Congress for US President George W Bush’s final two years in office last night in elections shadowed by war in Iraq and scandal at home.

THE man US President George W Bush wants as his UN ambassador was castigated yesterday as a “kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy” who had abused analysts who disagreed with his views of Cuba’s weapons capabilities.

Condoleezza Rice was confirmed as US Secretary of State today after undergoing torrid questioning by Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.