Voters braved a chilly weather and formed long lines at polling stations Tuesday across the city of Boston, the capital of the U.S. state of Massachusetts.

At the city's main library, the largest polling station that serves three precincts, voting started at 7 a.m. local time and the lines zigzagged around the street pavement before winding down the library basement where the actual balloting was done. Many said they had to wait about two hours to vote.

In the traditionally democratic state, incumbent President Barack Obama is expected to win with a large margin against his Republican rival Mitt Romney, if recent polls are proven to be correct.

"I support President Obama," Voter Karen Sturges told Xinhua in a clear-cut tone.

"He has done an excellent job in foreign affairs. He has done a wonderful job in our recent crisis, the hurricane. He cares about making the playing field fair for all Americans. With his tax policy, he cares about those who don't have so much," she said.

Many voters shared the same support for the president. But when asked if they believe Obama would win in the end, they admitted they were not so sure.

"It looks like a very close race. That is why it is so important to vote," said a middle-aged man who identified himself as Michael and called himself an independent. "Romney is an intelligent man but he is not my candidate."

In the long lines, those who wanted to vote for Romney were an obvious minority and some deliberately kept a low-key presence and appeared reluctant to respond to press inquiries.

But a 20-year-old woman voter who only identified herself as Lauren did not refrain from voicing support for the former Massachusetts governor. "I'm voting for Mitt Romney. I'm not anti- Democrat and I'm actually independent but I'm voting for Romney because I like what he did in Massachusetts when he was governor here."

The economy is in dire condition and a man like Romney is badly needed to restructure our economy, she said. "He has a lot of experiences doing businesses and I think that is what we need right now."

Some Romney supporters also expressed their concern about the economy. "Sixteen trillion debt, 1.5 trillion deficit. Obama has done an awful job. We just can't go on like this," said a man who declined to identify himself.

Similar concerns appeared to have thinned out the base of supporters for the president. Richard Babson, a local resident who said he once made an unsuccessful run for state representative, said he voted for Obama four years ago but decided to change this time.

"I voted for Romney. I voted for President Obama last time, but was a bit disappointed ... not enough got done. So I think it is time for a change."

Earlier in the day, in the suburban Boston town of Belmont, Romney's hometown, the presidential hopeful and his wife, Ann, cast their votes.

A large crowd, among whom there were more people holding signs for Romney than for Obama, cheered as the couple stepped out of the voting booth.

No matter they win or not, the Romneys have booked a grand ball room for party-making in the sprawling Boston Convention and Exhibition Center where they will await the final results of the presidential election along with supporters.

When the day ends, Obama is expected to carry the state of Massachusetts, where officials predicted that as many as 3.2 million people could vote, surpassing the record set in 2008.

But the battle will be decided in swing states like Ohio and Florida where recent polls have virtually put Romney and Obama neck and neck.

Despite her choice for Romney, Lauren has obviously prepared to accept whatever result comes out of the vote.

"We have to support whoever our president is, fully behind him, and hope for progress whether it is Obama or Romney," she said. 

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)