Obama, McCain ready to make history

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In Pennsylvania voters were greeted with long lines, arriving at polling places even before polls opened.

Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain enters the polling place with his ballot in hand to casts his vote in the general election in Phoenix,  November 4, 2008.(Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters)

The state is a bellwether and considered a microcosm of the US with its large cities and rural areas. Its 21 electoral votes are crucial to the McCain campaign. But Obama can afford to lose it and still carry the White House.

Florida has 27 electoral votes up for grabs and recent polls suggest it could go either way.

Gloria Karam, Voter, said, "John McCain, because I know where he's at, where he's going and what he's going to do for the country. I'm afraid of Obama."

Julian White, Voter, said, "I voted for Senator Obama because I think he is the best person qualified for the job."

Voter, said, "I am a Republican, but I am going to vote Democrat, because the situation every day gets worse. I've spent many years in this country. I've spent more than 44 years in this country and I've never seen the economy get worse every day."

California is the nation's most populous state with 55 electoral votes at at stake, the most of any state. 80 percent turnout or more is expected from voters in the state.

Polls show Obama leading McCain in 5 of the 8 key battleground states. A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Tuesday shows Obama expanding his national lead to 11 points over McCain among likely US voters.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei