Obama strikes first blow

Barack Obama came up a big winner in the presidential race in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, where the US’s first Election Day votes were cast and counted early today.

The Democrat candidate for the White House defeated Republican John McCain 15-6. Independent Ralph Nader was also on the ballot, but received no votes.

The first voter, following a tradition established in 1948, was picked ahead of the midnight voting and the rest of the town’s registered voters followed suit in the first minutes of today.

Town Clerk Rick Erwin said the northern New Hampshire town is proud of its tradition, but says the most important thing is that the turnout represents a 100% vote.

President George Bush won the vote in Dixville Notch in 2004 on the way to his re-election.