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Barack Obama to cast vote early in Chicago Barack Obama to cast vote early in Chicago
(about 1 hour later)
President Barack Obama is set to cast his vote in his hometown of Chicago, Illinois, as his campaign seeks to harvest votes ahead of election day. President Barack Obama casts his vote later in his hometown of Chicago as his campaign seeks to boost early ballots in a neck-and-neck election race.
Mr Obama will be the first president to vote early, as part of a two-day marathon campaign across six states. Mr Obama will be the first president to vote early, as part of a two-day campaign marathon across eight states.
A new Associated Press poll suggests Mr Romney has a slight lead in the race nationally. His Republican challenger, Mitt Romney, is in Ohio, a swing state which could hold the key to the White House.
The former Massachusetts governor had erased some of the president's lead among women in the poll. A new Associated Press poll suggests Mr Romney has eked out a slight national lead by 47% to 45% for Mr Obama.
Thursday's >AP poll also showed that the president had cut into Mr Romney's lead with male voters. >The survey also showed that Mr Romney had erased some of the president's lead among women in the poll, although Mr Obama had sliced into Mr Romney's lead with male voters.
All about Ohio
The president's early vote on Thursday is part of the Obama campaign's wider effort to encourage early voting, with many states holding open in-person polls this week.The president's early vote on Thursday is part of the Obama campaign's wider effort to encourage early voting, with many states holding open in-person polls this week.
First Lady Michelle Obama voted by absentee ballot on 15 October.First Lady Michelle Obama voted by absentee ballot on 15 October.
Because the US election is a state-by-state contest, a presidential candidate must win key election states like Ohio, Virginia and Florida in order to be elected. Because the US election is a state-by-state contest, a presidential candidate must win key battlegrounds like Ohio, Virginia and Florida, which do not reliably vote for either party. No Republican has ever won the White House without winning Ohio.
The campaign recently won a court ruling to keep Ohio's early voting open through the weekend before the election. The Obama campaign recently won a court ruling to keep Ohio's early voting open through the weekend before the election.
Mr Romney is set to campaign throughout the Mid-West state on Thursday. Former Massachusetts Governor Romney makes three stops across the Mid-Western state on Thursday, while his running mate Paul Ryan is spending the day in Virginia.
But the former Massachusetts governor's campaign has been distracted by the fall-out from a fellow Republican candidate's remarks that pregnancy from rape was part of God's plan. But the Republican ticket has been distracted by the fall-out from a fellow Republican candidate's remarks on Tuesday night that pregnancy from rape was part of God's plan.
Mr Romney has endorsed Indiana Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock in an ad running in Indiana this week. The campaign has said it disagreed with the comments by anti-abortion Indiana Senate hopeful Richard Mourdock, although it did not withdraw support from him.
On Wednesday, the campaign said it disagreed with Mr Mourdock's remarks, although it did not withdraw support from the Indiana state treasurer.
"We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest, but still support him," a campaign spokeswoman said."We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest, but still support him," a campaign spokeswoman said.
Republicans running in tight contests elsewhere have repudiated Mr Mourdock's comments. Republicans running in tight contests elsewhere have repudiated Mr Mourdock's remarks.
Mr Obama criticised Mr Mourdock's comments on a US late-night talk show on Wednesday. Powell endorses Obama
Mr Obama criticised Mr Mourdock on a US late-night talk show on Wednesday.
"I don't know how these guys come up with these ideas... rape is rape. It is a crime," Mr Obama told host Jay Leno, adding that politicians had no business making decisions for women about their bodies and health choices."I don't know how these guys come up with these ideas... rape is rape. It is a crime," Mr Obama told host Jay Leno, adding that politicians had no business making decisions for women about their bodies and health choices.
Mr Obama also received a boost on Thursday from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who endorsed Mr Obama for a second term. On Thursday, the president makes campaign stops in Florida, Virginia and Ohio. On Monday, he will appear for the first time at a campaign event this election cycle with former President Bill Clinton.
In an interview with the Des Moines Register, Mr Obama indicated what issues would be his priority in a second term, including a budget deal to reduce the US debt, as well as immigration.
Mr Obama received a boost from former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who endorsed Mr Obama on Thursday for a second term.
Mr Powell, who also backed Mr Obama in 2008, cited recent improvements in the economy and Mr Obama's guidance of the US military as reasons for his renewed endorsement.Mr Powell, who also backed Mr Obama in 2008, cited recent improvements in the economy and Mr Obama's guidance of the US military as reasons for his renewed endorsement.
"I also saw the president get us out of one war, start to get us out of a second war and did not get us into any new wars." Mr Powell said. "I think that the actions he's taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid.""I also saw the president get us out of one war, start to get us out of a second war and did not get us into any new wars." Mr Powell said. "I think that the actions he's taken with respect to protecting us from terrorism have been very, very solid."