George W. Bush is almost certain to win a second term as US President after clinching key states in a close battle for the White House.
A Bush victory in the state of Florida eclipsed the win by his Democratic challenger, Senator John Kerry, in another key state, Pennsylvania.
Bush has also performed strongly in Ohio, where a victory is crucial for a second term in the White House.
Across the rest of the US, there were few surprises as both candidates held on to their usual support bases. Bush won Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.
Kerry won California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and statewide in Maine.
Meanwhile, Republicans moved toward increasing their majority in the Senate, winning Democratic seats in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Louisiana. (albawaba.com)
