To push the idea that Barack Obama is unqualified to be president, Republican robocalls targeting the swing states in the final hours of the election, feature Hillary Clinton’s primary season criticism of Obama.

Washington - Barack Obama's grandmother, who helped raise the Democratic presidential candidate in Hawaii, passed away Monday after a prolonged battle with cancer.

Madelyn Dunham, 85, had been gravely ill for weeks, prompting Obama to interrupt his campaign for a few days last month to visit her in Honolulu, Hawaii.

"She was the cornerstone of our family and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength and humility," read a statement from Obama and his half-sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. "Our debt to her is beyond measure."

Chicago/Washington - US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain planned one final race across the country on Monday as state officials braced for record turnout in Tuesday's general election.

As Chicago prepared for a throng of 1 million people at a public park in anticipation of Democrat Obama's victory Tuesday, Republicans were wishing them bad weather and a surprise electoral victory for the underdog McCain.

Chicago/Washington - US presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain planned one final race across the country on Monday as state officials braced for record turnout in Tuesday's general election.

As Chicago prepared for a throng of 1 million people at a public park in anticipation of Democrat Obama's victory Tuesday, Republicans were wishing them bad weather and a surprise electoral victory for the underdog McCain.

Berlin - For Americans in Germany, election parties this week are not likely to get really exciting until long after midnight: it will be 5 am Wednesday, local time, when the polls finally close on the US west coast.

Not that the time difference has taken any edge off the excitement over the historic choice between Barack Obama, the Democratic candidate, and John McCain, the Republican contender. Obama visited Berlin in the summer and gave a speech to huge crowds. German media has closely followed the race.

Paris - If the informal straw poll at Harry's New York Bar in Paris is a reliable indicator, as it has been most of the time, Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States.

On Monday, one day before polling at Harry's Bar closes, the Democratic candidate had a lead of 248 to 154 votes, or 61.6 to 38.4 per cent, over his opponent, Republican John McCain.