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As we've mentioned earlier, Pennsylvania features one of the most important Senate races in this midterm election.

But who exactly are the two candidates vying for the state's coveted seat?

John Fetterman, 53, is the Democratic candidate.

The tattooed 6ft 8in (2m) left-wing Democrat is a Harvard graduate turned small town mayor who usually shuns suits in favour of shorts and a hoodie.

Fetterman suffered a stroke a few months ago that required him to use closed-captioning technology to answer questions.

For months after his stroke, Fetterman stayed out of the public eye, instead relying on television adverts and an aggressive social media campaign to build a polling lead over his rival Dr Oz.

But pressure grew for him to agree to a televised public debate as his lead over Dr Oz narrowed.

The two finally faced off last month. In several instances, Fetterman was unable to engage in the kind of quick, nimble replies and verbal sparring that typifies American political debates.

Mehmet Oz - widely known as Dr Oz - is the Republican candidate. He is a celebrity TV heart surgeon who was best known for his appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Oz would be the nation's first Muslim senator if elected.

His political patron is former President Donald Trump. Oz has capitalised on that fact that his opponent is recovering from a stroke, repeatedly challenging him to public debates.

On the hot topic of abortion, Oz said the decision should be left up to a "woman, doctor and local political leaders".

It's an answer that may concern the majority of voters who favour protecting the right to an abortion.

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We will be focusing our coverage today on the state of Pennsylvania - one of the key states in the midterms race.

President Joe Biden, as well as former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, are all on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania today.

Trump will hold a rally backing Republican Senate candidate Mehmet Oz at 19:00 ET (23:00 GMT) in the city of Latrobe.

Meanwhile, Obama will be at a Get Out the Vote rally with President Biden to support Democrat governor candidate Josh Shapiro and Senate candidate John Fetterman. Biden is expected to speak around 17:00 ET.

The outcome of Pennsylvania's Senate race could determine if the Democrats will maintain control over the upper chamber of the US Congress, or if it will tilt in favour of the Republicans - a tilt that could impact President Biden's agenda, as the Senate is crucial for making and passing laws in the US.

So far, polls show Oz and Fetterman to be neck-and-neck among voters - each polling around 46%.

Close contests have become the norm in Pennsylvania. The last two presidential elections were each decided by barely 1% - and this year’s Senate race could also come down to the wire.

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Sarah Smith
North America editor reporting from Jekyll Island, Georgia

In Georgia they love “shrimp and grits” so much they have an entire weekend festival devoted to the traditional southern dish. It's a good place to get a taste for how voters are feeling about the midterm elections in this key state.

I was surprised to find that most people queuing up to get their grits were not deterred from voting for Hershel Walker by the claims from two ex-girlfriends that he had pressured them into having abortions - despite his public stance in favour of banning abortion without exceptions. Claims that Walker has denied.

Brian (pictured) said the story didn’t bother him as Walker had said it wasn’t true.

Dorothy, who calls herself a “proud MAGA Republican”, voted for Walker because, she said, he is a changed man since he came to God.

Other Republican voters dismissed the scandal as lies or fake news. “You don't know what to believe when everyone is smearing everyone else,” said Jeremy Bower.

The economy, inflation and the price of gas was what most voters said really mattered to them. With many of them directly blaming President Joe Biden for rising prices.

I can also report that shrimp and grits taste a lot better than they sound.

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While President Joe Biden isn’t on the ballot, the upcoming midterms will decide who controls Congress as well as state legislatures and governors’ offices.

The outcome of these races can have a huge impact on the direction the US takes in the next few years, as well as on the fate of the president - and the party - in power.

Biden: If control of one of the two chambers of Congress goes to the Republicans, Biden will likely be thwarted in his attempts to get bills and laws passed. You can expect to see gridlock.

Abortion Rights: Both parties have proposed nationwide laws concerning abortion rights if they are in control of Congress after the midterms. At a state level, the results of governor and local races could mean further abortion restrictions in some states.

Investigations: Some Republicans have vowed to close the committee investigating the 6 January 2021 riot at the US Capitol, and launch hearings of their own into Joe Biden’s son Hunter and his business ties to China if they win control of the House of Representatives.

Read more about why the midterms matter here.

The Federal Reserve increased interest rates for the sixth time this year on Wednesday, in a bid to reduce inflation - an issue on the minds of many Americans, and which has now become a hot topic in these midterms.

The cost of food in the US is rising at the fastest pace since the 1970s, with grocery prices up 13.5% in the 12 months to September - and wages are failing to keep pace.

Shoppers across the country are feeling the pain. The Republicans are running with it as one of their key talking points to attack the Democrats.

However, for the Democratic base, polls suggest that inflation concerns have been overshadowed by the fight over abortion, which returned to the spotlight after the Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to abortion in June.

There are also worries about democracy generally, which some attribute to former president Donald Trump's involvement in politics.

For Republicans, the economy remains key, especially as the price of gasoline - which can loom larger than food price hikes in the public imagination - has started to tick higher after dropping this summer.

But Republican candidates are also focused on issues that appeal to their base, like immigration.

Let's take a look at some key states that could swing Congress for the Democrats or the Republicans.

We'll be bringing you on-the-ground reporting from these battleground states as we continue to count down to the midterms.

Arizona: In 2020, President Joe Biden became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Arizona since Bill Clinton, who won the state in 1996. The governor race in Arizona pits Trump-backed Republican and former TV news anchor Kari Lake against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, a Democrat who rose to national prominence for fighting back against Trump’s claims of election fraud.

Georgia: Two years ago, Biden became the first Democrat to win Georgia since 1992.The race is expected to be a close-run affair as Democrat Raphael Warnock goes up against Trump-backed football star Herschel Walker, who is standing on a strongly anti-abortion platform, despite claims from two women thathe paid for them both to have a termination.

Michigan: Biden won Michigan in 2020, after Donald Trump became the first Republican to win the state since 1988. Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer faces conservative commentator Tudor Dixon, who has the backing of Donald Trump. The outcome of certain governor and local races could affect abortion laws in some states.

Pennsylvania: In the race for governor, the state’s attorney general, Democrat Josh Shapiro, is facing off against Doug Mastriano, a state senator backed by Donald Trump. The winner will be able to choose the state’s election officials for 2024 and can block - or advance - voting restrictions in the state.

Image source, Reuters

With only four days to go until the midterm elections, current and former presidents are out campaigning for Democratic and Republican candidates across the country.

President Joe Biden, as well as former presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama, are focusing their efforts on Pennsylvania - one of the key states in the midterms race.

Trump will hold a rally backing Republican candidate Mehmet Oz at 19:00 ET (23:00 GMT) in the city of Latrobe.

Obama is also in Pennslyvania and will be at the Get Out the Vote rally alongside President Biden backing gubernatorial candidate Josh Shapiro, and senatorial candidate John Fetterman. Biden is expected to speak around 17:00 ET (21:00 GMT)

Meanwhile, former President Bill Clinton will be campaigning for Governor Kathy Hochul in New York, and First Lady Jill Biden will attend an Arizona Education Association campaign rally and will go on the campaign trail with Senator Mark Kelly.

Echoing President Biden's remarks, the US House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, spoke to grassroots activists last night in California and said that the midterms race is "very winnable".

Pelosi also said that the Democrats' efforts are aimed not only at winning the election but also at strengthening the American democracy: "There is no question that our democracy is on the ballot,” she said.

This was the first appearance Pelosi has made since her husband was attacked at the couple's San Francisco home by an intruder who was reportedly carrying zip ties, tape and a rope in a backpack and hit him on the head with a hammer after asking where "Nancy" was.

Pelosi said that the attack on her husband highlighted the "fear" felt by poll workers and other Americans in the heated political climate ahead of next week's midterm elections.

Addressing her husband's injuries, Pelosi said that "it's going to be a long haul," but that he "will be well."

She added: "People say to me: ‘What can I do to make you feel better?’ I say: ‘Vote!’” Pelosi told those on the video call on Friday.

Image source, Reuters

On Friday night, President Biden attended a Chicago-area fundraiser for two Democratic Representatives at risk of losing their seats if Republicans do well in midterm elections on Tuesday.

Biden told donors he is "not buying the notion that we’re in big trouble".

However, forecasts show Republicans are poised to take control of the US House of Representatives and perhaps the Senate as well, which would give them the power to block Biden's legislative agenda for the next two years. This would be in line with historical trends that show that the ruling party normally loses control of Congress during the first half of a new president's term.

But Biden remained positive, saying that he thought Democrats might buck the trend this time: "We're going to win this time around. I feel really good about our chances."

Biden's campaign swing will conclude with a joint appearance in Philadelphia on Saturday with former President Barack Obama.

Welcome to our live coverage of the run-up to next week's midterm elections.

We will bring you all the latest developments as current and former presidents join the campaigning efforts on either side of the Democratic and Republican divide.

Do stay with us.