Proud Grandmother

Really sad that Barack Obama's grandmother isn't going to get to share in the culmination of his remarkable story, but she did get to cast her vote...

Barack Obama used his last campaign rallies before election day to pay tribute to his grandmother who died on the eve of the biggest day of his life.

The Democratic White House hopeful became tearful as he spoke to tens of thousands of supporters in Virginia and North Carolina, calling Madelyn Dunham a "quiet hero" in his life.

In Hawaii, where the 86-year-old Mrs Dunham died at home on Monday morning, one of her final acts was to vote for her grandson as he sought to become America's first black president.

Kevin Cronin, the Chief Elections Officer, confirmed that Mrs Dunham's absentee ballot, which was received on October 27, would count towards Mr Obama's final tally.