Morning Brief: One day more

Top Story

With less than 24 hours to go before polling places open for election day and after spending roughly $8 per expected vote, the U.S. presidential candidates are making their final pitches to voters.

Over the weekend, Barack Obama used Vice President Dick Cheney’s endorsement of John McCain to paint the Republican nominee as another George W. Bush, while McCain questioned Obama’s experience and said the Democratic nominee would raise taxes and increase government spending.

But the odds are looking increasingly long for McCain. A trio of Quinnipiac University polls shows Obama ahead in the key states of Florida (47-45), Ohio (51-42), and Pennsylvania (53-41). The latest Washington Post-ABC News tracking poll gives the Illinois senator an 11-point national lead among likely voters.

In the electoral college, RealClearPolitics gives Obama an edge of 278 to McCain’s 132, with 128 electoral votes in the “tossup” category. CNN gives Obama 291 votes to McCain’s 157, with 90 electoral votes up for grabs. And the New York Times scores it as 291 for Obama versus 163 for McCain, with 84 electoral votes too close to call. The Intrade prediction market rates Obama’s chances of victory at 90 percent.

Economy

The U.S. Treasury Department has turned down GM’s request for funding.

The $143 billion rescue of insurance company AIG faces growing criticism.

Americas

Argentina risks another debt crisis.

An Obama victory could open the door for U.S.-Venezuela talks, President Hugo Chávez says, but only “on equal and respectful terms.”

Only about a third of the aid money promised to hurricane-wracked Haiti has actually materialized.

Asia

Worried about exports, South Korea is pumping $11 billion into its economy.

Eggs tainted with melamine are a rarity, China’s agriculture minister insists.

China moved to tax income derived from online video games.

Middle East and Africa

Radical settlers may try to assassinate peace-minded politicians, Israel’s internal security chief warned.

Zambia’s opposition disputes the results of last week’s presidential election.

South Africa’s ruling Africa National Congress is splitting in two. ANC leader Jacob Zuma says the rebels are “snakes.”

Europe

The European Commission thinks Europe’s economy is already in recession.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and British PM Gordon Brown are seeking a “new Bretton Woods” to replace the world’s current financial architecture.

Time looks at the increasingly dangeous situation in Ingushetia, a volatile republic in Russia’s north Caucasus region.

Today’s Agenda

Gen. David Petraeus is visiting Pakistan.

A top Chinese envoy is visiting Taiwan.

Hamas leader Khalid Meshaal is visiting Beirut, Lebanon.

McCain is campaigning in Florida, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Mexico, Nevada, and Arizona; Obama will be in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia; Sarah Palin is in Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, and Nevada; Joe Biden will stump in Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

Photos: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images; ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images