As the parents of Terri Schiavo vowed to take their case to the Supreme Court after a federal appeals court rejected their request that the severely brain damaged Florida woman’s feeding tube be reinserted, conservative activists stepped up their use of the tools of modern American campaigning to help keep her alive.

One site, BlogsforTerri.com, offered directions to a candlelight vigil on Wednesday evening in Dallas and called on supporters to protest at the office of a Florida prosecutor, hoping he will charge a state judge with "aiding and abetting" Ms Schiavo's husband - who favours removing her feeding tube - in "domestic violence".