What happens next?

THE American Presidential Election campaign was poised to be a cliffhanger late last night, as a record turnout of voters across American confirmed passions evoked by one of the most divisive elections in US election history.

Last night, a turnout of 121 million voters was being predicted by analysts in Washington, an increase of some 15 million on the 106 million who voted in the 2000 election.

In a clear acknowledgement of the closeness of the contest, especially in the swing states, President George Bush and his Democratic Party rival Senator John Kerry returned to the key battleground state of Ohio, the outcome of which is expected to determine who will win the race for the White House.