America votes: Ohio likely to hold the key
Capping a long and bitter race for the White House, Americans cast their votes Tuesday wi-th polls showing Presi-dent Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney ne-ck-and-neck in an election likely to be decided in a handful of states.
Polling stations opened across eastern US and Midwest, with the West Coast soon to follow, as Election Day dawned. At least 120 million were expected to decide whether to give Mr Obama a second term or replace him with Mr Romney.
National opinion polls show Mr Obama and Mr Romney in a virtual dead heat, although the incumbent has a slight advantage in several vital swing states — notably Ohio — that could give him the 270 electoral votes. The close presidential race raises the prospect of a disputed outcome similar to the 2000 election, that was decided by the US Supreme Court in favo-ur of George W. Bush over Al Gore. Both the Romney and Obama campaigns have assembled legal teams to deal with possible challenges or recounts.
The balance of power in the US Senate and House may also shift with Tuesday’s election.
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