The divided states of America

A cliffhanger vote went right down to the wire last night as Barack Obama and Mitt Romney sweated on results from the presidential election, with 130 million people across the US casting their ballot.

And Mr Obama delivered a demoralising defeat in Massachusetts — where Mr Romney was governor and he voted yesterday.

Counting began before 11pm Irish time, with early results showing a lead for Mr Romney in Indiana, which Mr Obama won in 2008. The first two states to declare were Kentucky for Romney, Vermont for Obama.