Voters swarm to polls on Election Day 2008

— -- Americans by the millions continue to cast their votes Tuesday to choose the next president in an election that will be historic, no matter what the outcome.

Republican nominee John McCain and Democratic nominee Barack Obama voted, then went back on the campaign trail one last time to try to rally their supporters. If Obama wins, he will become the first African American president; a McCain victory will put into office the oldest person ever elected to a first term, as well as the first female vice president in Sarah Palin.

Lines of voters formed at polling places as early as 4 a.m. in many states. Obama led in national polls and appeared to have the edge in key battleground states, but Republicans expressed optimism that McCain could put together the 270 electoral votes needed to claim the presidency.

By tradition, the small New Hampshire community of Dixville Notch cast its ballots shortly after midnight and released the results: Obama 15, McCain six.

Except for snow in the Rockies and Northwest and rain along the Mid-Atlantic coast, weather did not appear to be a factor in voter turnout, which was heavy in some states.

In Columbus, Ohio, voting went smoothly. There were short lines or no lines at most polling places after a burst of early morning voting.

Four years ago, the state suffered long voting lines on Election Day, when some voters had to wait more than six hours to cast their ballot. This year, at least 1.5 million of Ohio's 8 million voters took advantage of absentee voting that permitted casting ballots by mail or in-person at election offices. The state also added thousands of voting machines to reduce waiting.

"I'm worried as can be, but things have worked smoothly for the most part," said Denise Sinkfield, the election supervisor at a large polling station at the Driving Park Recreation Center.

In Raleigh, N.C., where voters turned out despite a steady rain, Jimmie Taylor, 52, a truck driver who voted for the first time in 10 years, said the economy was his chief concern.

"People don't have jobs, and we need a change," Taylor said, adding that he was drawn to Obama because of his eloquence. "He talks good, I like what he says."

Many votes have been cast for days. Though the overall number of early votes was unknown, there were more than 29 million ballots cast in 30 states, suggesting an advantage for Obama.

Democrats voted in larger numbers than Republicans in North Carolina, Colorado, Florida and Iowa, all of which went for President Bush in 2004.