Polar opposites to clash on road to White House

A YOUNG inspirational senator with little experience but a message of change and hope for America looks set to take on a former Vietnam prisoner of war and undisputed American hero in the US presidential election.

Barack Obama, 46, and John McCain, 71, are in many ways polar opposites and likely to clash on everything from Iraq and national security to the economy, all key issues in the 2008 race so far.

Obama has described it as a battle between the policies of yesterday and the party of tomorrow, while McCain has said he will “fight every moment of every day in this campaign to make sure Americans are not deceived by an eloquent but empty call for change”.