By Bhagyashree Garekar, US Correspondent

WASHINGTON: Tens of millions of Americans flocked to the polls yesterday, in some cases lining up before dawn to choose their next leader in the historic election.

Front-running Democrat Barack Obama was seeking to become the first black president of the United States, as his Republican rival John McCain pinned his hopes on an upset win.

Five national polls released yesterday all showed Mr Obama gaining 50 per cent or more of the popular vote - something not accomplished by a Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

All eyes on Ohio for early bellwether

Uphill task for McCain as no one's taken main prize without this state

By Li Xueying, Political Correspondent

LAKE COUNTY (Ohio): For the last 30 years, the results from Lake County, Painesville, have mirrored the overall choice of voters in Ohio, itself a bellwether state for the national vote.

In addition, Lake County's demographic make-up almost exactly mirrors that of the state in terms of the breakdown between agricultural, urban and suburban communities, while it has a just slightly higher than average number of ethnic-minority voters.

And with Republican John McCain having to chalk up a win in Ohio if he was to have a chance of the White House, all that meant it was being closely watched yesterday amid expectations of a record 120,000 turnout.

Palin casts her vote before dawn

WASILLA (Alaska): Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin said she was humbled to be able to vote, as she cast her ballot before the sun rose in her hometown.

Putting up a confident front, she said outside the polling station: 'Tomorrow, I hope, I pray, believe that I will be able to wake up as vice-president elect and be able to get to work, transition mode, with the president-elect John McCain.'

Mrs Palin, the governor of Alaska, is bidding to become the first female vice-president of the United States.

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