Obama holds firm lead over McCain as battle for White House nears conclusion

The battle for the US presidency entered its final hours Monday, with polls showing Barack Obama holding a solid lead in his historic quest to become the first black US president while rival John McCain grasped for a last-minute upset.

On the last day of his 21month campaign for the White House, Obama told supporters in Jacksonville,Florida,he could win the longest, most expensive US presidential contest in history but only with their support.

"That's how we're gonna change this country – with your help," he told the crowd, amid chants of "O-bam-a, O-bam-a." "And that's why we can't afford to slow down, sit back, or let up, one minute, or one second in the next 24 hours … Not now. Not when so much is at stake."

McCain meanwhile was racing through seven states in a last campaign swing that ends Tuesday morning in a bid to persuade undecided voters that he, not his rival, was more qualified to lead the world's most powerful nation.

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