All eyes on the swing states as US votes
Tears from Obama, Romney upbeat as millions turn out to cast their ballots, relieved that a 'nasty' campaign is finally near its end
Millions of Americans were pouring into polling booths this morning (Hong Kong time) to decide one of the closest, most bitterly - fought presidential elections in years.
With closing final national polls too close to call between Democrat President Barack Obama and his Republican rival Mitt Romney, all eyes will be on 11 or so swing states – particularly Ohio and Virginia – that are vital to both candidates.
Thousands of voters were queuing at booths, some amid the rubble left by superstorm Sandy, as dawn broke bright but cold along the East Coast. With many people voting on economic issues after a bruising four years.
Many expressed anger at a particularly nasty campaign that saw more than US$1 billion splurged on often dishonest television campaigns as Obama painted Romney as far- right and out of touch and Romney branding Obama as an economics and political failure.
“It’s been an awfully nasty campaign, so it is wonderful just to get out to vote and finally end this thing,” said Washington voter Pam Sanders.
Obama, America’s first black president, is vying to become the first Democrat to win re-election since President Bill Clinton in 1996. Romney, a wealthy former private equity investor and former governor of Massachusetts, would become America’s first Mormon president.
Obama was in tears on Monday as he staged the last act of his campaign blitzkrieg in Iowa – the mid-western state where he started his run for the presidency five years ago. Win or lose, the race marks his last his election campaign for the 51-year-old former Senator.