US voters queued for hours today at the end of a marathon and historic political race expected to make Democrat Barack Obama the country’s first black president.

Democrat Barack Obama held onto his solid lead in the polls and appeared confident of capturing the US presidency in the historic race, but steeled his supporters for a crescendo of vicious attacks in the final hours of the campaign.

Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain were preparing to reach out to conservative religious voters, a group that has largely supported the Republican Party but from whom Mr Obama hopes he can siphon some votes with firm talk of his Christian faith.

Democrat Barack Obama is an “impressive fellow” whose success as the first black US presidential candidate for a major party should make every American proud, his Republican rival John McCain said today.

Democrat Barack Obama lashed out today at rival for the party’s presidential nomination Hillary Clinton, mocking her sudden vocal support for gun rights and saying he understands the concerns of working class people.