Obama ahead as Americans set to choose new president

With the world and Turkey watching closely, the American people are set to cast ballots today to choose the next US president. Early voting has started in many states, and citizens abroad have been busy casting absentee ballots. The most recent polls show Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama with a substantial lead over Republican rival John McCain both nationwide and in key individual states. Obama is even ahead in many states won by President George W. Bush in the 2004 elections. A poll by Reuters and Zogby shows the Democratic candidate leading McCain in six of eight key voting areas, including the battleground states of Florida and Ohio.