Democrat rivals Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama today shifted their battle for the presidential nomination to Indiana, the Midwestern state where the former first lady faces yet another must-win vote in the opening days of May.

Seeking to fuel his own agenda, President George Bush encouraged Americans to change their energy consumption habits and help move the US away from its reliance on oil.

The US, in conjunction with other oil consuming nations, expects to release 2 million barrels a day of crude oil and petrol from US and international emergency government reserves to counter supply disruptions caused by Hurricane Katrina, administration officials said today.

AFTER a slugfest campaign that intensified through the year, US President George W Bush, voting in Texas, said “I’ve given it my all,” while John Kerry, campaigning in Wisconsin, promised to take the nation “to a better place”.

The first presidential election since the United States plunged into its war on terrorism was finally handed over to voters today.

John Kerry is telling voters that President Bush’s record on jobs and taxes have helped special interests, not their interests, as he launches the final stretch of his presidential campaign with running mate John Edwards.