McCain’s campaign said Obama was confusing the facts and engaging in typical political attacks that the Democrat rejects in his speeches. Both candidates have visited the flood zones in the past two weeks, since tornadoes hit and heavy rains sent rivers surging over their banks. At least 24 people were killed, the majority in Iowa.

Obama, an Illinois senator, cancelled a visit to eastern Iowa last week at the request of state officials and instead went to fill sandbags in Quincy, Ill. McCain, an Arizona senator, toured flood damage in Iowa on Thursday.

The bill that McCain opposed spent $ 23 billion on water projects. It passed Congress overwhelmingly and was vetoed by President Bush because he said it spent too much on lawmaker’s pet projects. Congress voted to override the veto.

The bill funded hundreds of projects — such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration — that are important to local communities and their representatives. It also included money for the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast and for Florida Everglades restoration efforts.

‘Obama establishes lead’

Newyork, pti:  Barack Obama has bounced ahead of his Republican rival John McCain in the race for the White House with a new poll showing that he has established a handsome double digit lead of 15 percentage point over the Arizona Senator.

This is the first Newsweek poll after Hillary Clinton withdrew from the contest and endorsed Obama. It also shows particularly high support for Obama among the young voters.

Analysts said that it is no surprise with President George Bush rock-bottom approval rating dragging McCain down. In the previous Newsweek poll, completed in late May, Obama managed no better than a 46 per cent tie with McCain.