Candidates’ election day preparation

BARACK OBAMA began a historic election day by voting alongside his wife and children.

At the Shoesmith Elementary School polling place near his Chicago home, a smiling Obama and his wife, Michelle, were joined by daughters Sasha and Malia, who watched their parents mark their paper ballots.

As Obama placed his ballot into a scanning machine surrounded by supporters, he said, “I hope this works. I’ll be really embarrassed if it doesn’t.”

When the machine took the ballot, the crowd cheered, prompting the first African-American presidential candidate on a major party ticket to smile and say, “I voted.”

He later, told reporters, “I feel great and it was fun, I had a chance to vote with my daughters.”

But, he said, he doesn’t feel sentimental just yet.

“You know I’m sure I will tonight, when polls close,” he said. “The journey ends, but voting with my daughters was a big deal.”

Obama’s vice presidential running mate, Senator Joe Biden, also voted in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware. He is also running to retain the Senate seat he’s held since 1973.

Republican John McCain has cast his ballot at a church near his central Phoenix home.

McCain stepped out of a sport-utility vehicle on Tuesday morning with wife Cindy as a small crowd cheered “Go, John, go!” and “We love you!” !

They walked into the church, cast their ballots and left within minutes, avoiding any lines.

McCain signed a poster and gave the thumbs-up sign before leaving without speaking to reporters.

Earlier, McCain could be seen on the patio of his high-rise condo, pacing with a cell phone and a large cup of coffee.

McCain scheduled campaign stops in two western battlegrounds on Election Day after a seven-state sprint brought him home at midnight. McCain normally stays close to home in Arizona on Election Day.

Meanwhile McCain’s running mate Alaska Governor Sarah Mrs Palin she felt “optimistic and confident” as she voted in Wasilla, Alaska, before flying to Phoenix to watch the results with Mr McCain.

“I hope, I pray, I believe I’ll be able to wake up as vice-presidential elect and work in transition mode with John McCain,” she said.