No apathy as US election day looms

After nearly two years of digesting speeches and slogans, of being bombarded with adverts and requests for money, of coming to terms with the possibility of the first non-white or female president, Americans are nearly there





They voted in record numbers in the primary elections and now look poised to do the same in the general election. In fact, they already have been.
And, after eight years of an increasingly unpopular Republican presidency, the advantage is with the Democratic Party - and the party's candidate, Barack Obama.

Certainly, the McCain campaign has made much of the tightening numbers in recent days and in places, such as Pennsylvania - a must win state for the Republican candidate.

There, the Arizona senator's argument that Mr Obama is too inexperienced in foreign affairs and too left-wing in his economic views is gaining traction.