Brown praises Obama before US elections, breaking protocol

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown voiced support on Wednesday for US Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying he would help Americans struggling with an economic downturn.

In a move seen by some British media as a break with a political convention requiring foreign leaders to remain neutral ahead of US elections, Brown praised Obama as a fellow "progressive politician" who would help ordinary Americans in tough times.

With eight weeks to go before the presidential election, Obama and his Republican rival John McCain are neck-and-neck in domestic opinion polls.