OTTAWA, Oct 16, 2007 (AFP) - Prime Minister Stephen Harper's ruling Conservatives have the support of 34 percent of Canadians, according to an opinion poll Tuesday, ahead of looming elections.

Thus, if an election were held now, the Conservatives would likely win a second minority, in spite of ongoing troubles for Liberal opposition leader Stephane Dion, according to the Strategic Counsel poll.

"They are way better off avoiding an election and continuing to govern as much as possible," pollster Tim Woolstencroft told the daily Globe and Mail.

OTTAWA, Oct 16, 2007 (AFP) - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper is expected Tuesday to lay out his upcoming legislative agenda in an address to Parliament which could lead to snap elections if it does not satisfy opposition parties.

But his main nemesis, Liberal leader Stephane Dion, is seemingly not ready to try to topple the government and force a third election in three years.

WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2007 (AFP) - Republican White House candidates pounded Iran Tuesday, with Rudolph Giuliani warning of a military strike to deprive it of a nuclear bomb, and a top rival lashing "terror masters" in Tehran.

The candidates talked tough before the receptive audience of the Republican Jewish Coalition, fleshing out already hawkish stands on the Iran, emerging as a dominant foreign policy issue in the 2008 campaign.

WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2007 (AFP) - Democratic White House challenger Barack Obama on Tuesday pleaded with supporters to send him more money to finance his battle against Hillary Clinton's "entrenched political machine."

Obama's email message to supporters may be seen as a sign time is running out for him to overhaul Clinton's wide lead in opinion polls, and reflected his new, more personal and bruising tone towards the party front-runner.

WASHINGTON, Oct 16, 2007 (AFP) - Democratic White House challenger Barack Obama on Tuesday pleaded with supporters to send him more money to finance his battle against Hillary Clinton's "entrenched political machine."

Obama's email message to supporters may be seen as a sign time is running out for him to overhaul Clinton's wide lead in opinion polls, and reflected his new, more personal and bruising tone towards the party front-runner.