Jordan Tryman, 13, listens to Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama yesterday, during a rally in Tampa, Florida.

WASHINGTON (AP):

Democrat Barack Obama opened a campaign blitz in battleground Florida yesterday, buoyed by the endorsement of former Secretary of State Colin Powell, while Republican John McCain was defending his turf in bellwether Missouri.

Obama notched the endorsement of Powell, a retired general who was chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff and secretary of state to President George W. Bush.

The backing of Powell, a moderate Republican, was viewed as a blow to McCain's attempts to paint Obama as unready to serve as commander in chief of the United States military.

Obama welcoming campaign

Obama told NBC television Monday that Powell was welcome to campaign for him and might have a place in his administration. He said Powell will have a role as one of his advisers and that a formal role in his government was something they would have to discuss.

While Obama said he would welcome Powell on the campaign trail, Powell said he had no plans for that.

"I won't lie to you, I would love to have him at any stop," Obama said with a grin Monday. "Obviously, if he wants to show up he's got an open invitation."

The Illinois Democrat's distinct financial advantage and heavy advertising nationwide are believed to have aided him in putting traditionally Republican states in play this year, forcing McCain on the defensive in the final two weeks of the campaign in places like Missouri.

Obama's campaign reported raking in a record-shattering $150 million in campaign donations last month.

McCain reported on Monday that his campaign spent $37 million in September, leaving $47 million available for October. McCain is no longer raising funds because he is participating in the presidential election public financing system. That restricts his spending to $84 million between early September and Election Day, November 4.

Obama is not accepting public money and is therefore free to raise and spend as much as he wants.

Voters are consumed with anxieties over chaos in the financial system that has wiped out billions in retirement savings, sent home-mortgage foreclosures to near record levels and produced an economic nosedive that many fear could mean a deep and prolonged recession. The economic turmoil has played to Obama's favour, as McCain has turned in what has been perceived as an unsteady performance on economic issues.

Poll statistics

A Suffolk University poll of 600 likely Ohio voters showed Obama leading McCain by 9 percentage points, 51-42.

The survey, released on Monday, had a margin of error of 4 percentage points. The latest CNN-Opinion Research Corp national survey of 746 likely voters, showed Obama's lead narrowing to 6 points, 49-43. The previous poll by the organisations gave the Illinois senator an 11-point margin.

The presidential contest is not decided by the nationwide popular vote, but is instead a state-by-state contest to win electors who are apportioned according to state population.

Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain, walks to his motorcade after speaking at a rally in St Charles, Missouri yesterday. - AP Photos