Obama turns up heat before crucial convention

Barack Obama cranked up his campaign in the final days before the Democratic convention, drawing closer to naming a running mate and attacking what he said was Republican rival John McCain’s habit of questioning his “character and patriotism”.

Vice-presidential picks have seldom been as important as this year. Mr Obama was thought to be looking for a running mate who adds weight to the Democratic ticket, given the Illinois senator’s brief tenure on the national political scene.