A tyre pressure gauge distributed by the campaign of Republican presidential candidate, Senator John McCain, R-Ariz, with the writing 'Obama's Energy Plan' is photographed last Wednesday in Dublin, Ohio.

WASHINGTON (AP):

Automobile tyre pressure has become an unlikely issue in the United States presidential campaign, as John McCain mocked Barack Obama's recommendation that drivers keep their tyres well-inflated and then Obama taunted his Republican rival for admitting that the practice saves gasolene.

Both candidates have been vying to persuade voters that they have the best plans to bring down high gasolene prices, which top the list of American voters' concerns. Most of the debate has centred on nuclear energy, offshore drilling and tapping strategic petroleum reserves. But on Wednesday, the talk was about tyres.

Discussing the air-pressure issue during an appearance Tuesday night, McCain said he was not opposed to Obama's suggestion. "And could I mention that Senator Obama a couple of days ago said that we ought to all inflate our tyres, and I don't disagree with that. The American Automobile Association strongly recommends it, but I also don't think that that's a way to become energy independent.''

Keeping tyres

Obama had noted that keeping tyres should be part of any comprehensive plan to reduce reliance on imported oil.

In mocking Obama, McCain said at a motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota: "My opponent doesn't want to drill, he doesn't want nuclear power, he wants you to inflate your tyres.''

Obama seized on both statements Wednesday in trying to portray McCain as a flip-flopper. "It will be interesting to watch this debate between John McCain and John McCain," Obama said as he campaigned in Indiana with Sen Evan Bayh, widely considered a top-tier candidate for running mate.

The energy sparring continued as McCain criticised Obama for not fully embracing nuclear power as part of a comprehensive energy solution. "He's out of touch," McCain said while campaigning in Ohio on Wednesday.

McCain called on Congress to return from its summer recess to address immediately the US energy crisis, though he missed numerous energy-related votes in the Senate last year.