Special Report: U.S. presidential election 2008 

U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) and his wife Michelle vote in the U.S. presidential election at the Beulah Shoesmith Elementary School in Chicago, Nov. 4, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 4 -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama began the day with a solid lead in national polls as Americans cast their votes on election day.

    But his Republican rival John McCain says he's confident he can still score an upset at the end of a marathon struggle for the White House.

    Obama joined the nation's earliest voters, casting his ballot in Chicago, Illinois on Tuesday morning. Obama is heavily favored to carry the state, along with its 21 electoral votes, in his bid for the presidency.

    Meanwhile, McCain cast his ballot at a church near his central Phoenix home. Arizona is historically Republican, carrying 10 electoral votes.

    In Delaware, Obama's running mate Joe Biden cast his vote at a private school near his home. The Democrat-leaning state carries 3 electoral votes.

    McCain's running mate Sarah Palin cast her ballot in her hometown of Wasilla, Alaska. Palin says she hopes, prays and believes she will be able to take her experience as a reformer to Washington as vice president.

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Senator John McCain casts his vote alongside his wife Cindy (L), at his polling place in Phoenix, Nov. 4, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Alaska is historically Republican, carrying 3 electoral votes.

    Elsewhere, long lines greeted US voters on Tuesday as polls across the country were deluged by people wanting to cast ballots in this historic race.

    In Harlem, New York some residents said they felt a sense of history being made. The area has a long history as an African-American neighborhood in Manhattan.

    Obama is expected to win traditionally-Democratic New York, along with its 31 electoral college votes. The winner must receive 270 electoral college votes.

    In Pennsylvania voters were greeted with long lines, arriving at polling places even before polls opened.

    The state is a bellwether and considered a microcosm of the US with its large cities and rural areas. Its 21 electoral votes are crucial to the McCain campaign. But Obama can afford to lose it and still carry the White House.

    Florida has 27 electoral votes up for grabs and recent polls suggest it could go either way.

    Gloria Karam, Voter, said, "John McCain, because I know where he's at, where he's going and what he's going to do for the country. I'm afraid of Obama."

    Julian White, Voter, said, "I voted for Senator Obama because I think he is the best person qualified for the job."

    Voter, said, "I am a Republican, but I am going to vote Democrat, because the situation every day gets worse. I've spent many years in this country. I've spent more than 44 years in this country and I've never seen the economy get worse every day."

    California is the nation's most populous state with 55 electoral votes at at stake, the most of any state. 80 percent turnout or more is expected from voters in the state.

    Polls show Obama leading McCain in 5 of the 8 key battleground states. A Reuters/C-SPAN/Zogby poll released on Tuesday shows Obama expanding his national lead to 11 points over McCain among likely U.S. voters.

    (Source: CCTV.com)