Counting down to the US election

In the second presidential debate, Obama and McCain went head to head over issues of health care, the economy and Iraq [GALLO/GETTY]

Nashville, Tennessee's Belmont University is gearing up for the second presidential debate [Reuters]

The candidates arrived at the debate location to find a circus of media coverage [GALLO/GETTY]

John McCain, the Republican party's nominee, is looking to halt a slide in the polls attributed to his stance on the economy [GALLO/GETTY]

But McCain supporters say polling is not an accurate reflection of national sentiment [GALLO/GETTY]

Obama's well-organised, well-financed campaign has been called an unstoppable juggernaut [GALLO/GETTY]

Both campaigns have made personal attacks on the rival candidates' histories and characters [GALLO/GETTY]

For the candidates though, it continues to be about finding that next great photo opportunity [GALLO/GETTY]