The race for the U.S. presidency entered its final hours on Monday, with polls showing Barack Obama holding a solid lead in his historic quest to become the U.S.'s first African American president while rival John McCain grasped for a last minute comeback.And while the polls are just beginning to open a large part of the electorate has already rendered their verdict. A record 27 million voters cast absentee or early ballots in 30 states as of Saturday night with Democrats outnumbering Republicans in pre-Election Day voting in key states. 11/04/08