Obama flies to ill grandmother

Barack Obama is leaving the presidential campaign trail for two days to be with his 85-year-old grandmother, who has suddenly become very ill. The health of the Illinois senator's grandmother Madelyn Payne Dunham, who brought him up, is said to have worsened in recent days.
The 47-year-old Democrat will travel to Hawaii to be with her. He leaves the campaign trail just two weeks before next month's election. Mr Obama will attend an event in Indianapolis, Indiana, before making the long flight to Hawaii later today. Other events have been called off.
However, his wife, Michelle, will replace him at two rallies in the battleground state of Ohio on Friday. Mr Obama's spokesman said: "Senator Obama's grandmother has always been one of the most important people in his life, along with his mother and his grandfather."