Obama makes landmark TV infomercial

Barack Obama launched a rare and extensive final push for the US presidency today, declaring that America’s “optimism and hope and strength” would lead the nation to better times ahead.

The Democrat adopted a quiet, calm and reflective tone as he became the first presidential candidate in 16 years to air a 30-minute primetime “infomercial” on US TV networks, a move thought to have cost his campaign more than $4m (€3m).