The early ballot from Barack Obama’s dead grandmother will be valid in the US election, officials in Hawaii said.

Barack Obama was on course to make history tonight by becoming the first black president of the United States.

DEMOCRAT Barack Obama will leave the White House trail tomorrow to head to the side of his gravely ill 85-year-old grandmother in Hawaii, just 11 days before the election.

Barack Obama is leaving the presidential campaign trail for two days to be with his 85-year-old grandmother who has suddenly become seriously ill, his campaign said today.