US presidential hopefuls, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, are preparing to woo Christian voters at a religious forum in California.
The pair will share a stage for the first time since securing nomination as influential US pastor Rick Warren interviews each candidate for an hour.
The two men are expected to face questions on their personal values, leadership and international affairs.
The Reverend Warren said he would not endorse either of the candidates.
The forum will be the senators' last joint appearance before their official nomination as the Republican and Merkel calls for budget consolidation ...
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Three debates are scheduled to take place after the conventions.
'No wiggle room'
Mr Warren is best known for building Saddleback Church into a 20,000-member "mega-church" in Lake Forest, southern California, and for writing The Purpose-Driven Life.
Ahead of the forum, Mr Warren told CNN he would ask both men questions that did not have "a lot wiggle room".
"But I do want to know how they handle a crisis, because a lot of the things in the presidency often deal with things you don't know are going to happen," he said.
John McCain, who identifies himself as Baptist, has made a strong appeal to social conservatives and evangelical Christians during his campaign.
But he rarely discusses his faith. Earlier this year he said: "I'm unashamed and unembarrassed about my deep faith in God. But I do not obviously try to impose my views on others."
Meanwhile, Barack Obama's appearance will underscore the tension that his support for abortion rights and same-sex civil unions has created with the more conservative religious voters.
Mr Obama, a Christian, has made a point of discussing his religion on the campaign trail and has been courting religious voters with a presence on Christian radio and blogs, and other events.
(BBC)
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