Experts say the turnout is being driven by the candidacy of Senator Barack Obama who is vying to become the nation's first African-American president.

Millions of Americans have already cast ballots in the U.S. Presidential election in some 32 states which have expanded traditional absentee rules to allow anyone to go to a polling place and vote early.

Key pollsters speculate nearly a quarter of all voters might cast ballots before November 4th, which would be a record. Surveys indicate many of those voting early are African Americans, many who say they are excited by the prospect of electing Senator Barack Obama the first African American president.

Meanwhile, a large segment of popular opinion, across the Middle East, appears to be supporting Democratic U.S. presidential candidate Barak Obama in Tuesday's contest against Republican John McCain. But, as Edward Yernanian reports from Cairo, portions of the political elite in the Gulf, as well as many Christians in Lebanon and Egypt appear to favor the latter.