Chika Shimada, a clerk for a souvenir shop holds a doll featuring US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama in front of "I Love Obama'" poster in Obama city Fukui prefecure, on November 4, 2008. It may not quite be the party planned by Barack Obama's home city of Chicago, but a Japanese town named Obama is pulling out the stops in the hope its adopted son will win the White House next week. This ancient fishing town of 32,000 people -- Obama means "small shore" in Japanese -- has been rooting for the Democratic senator from Illinois ever since he became a viable candidate for the American presidency. Voting started in the US presidential election on November 4 when polls opened in the northeastern state of Vermont, a local electoral official told. Getty Images logo Getty Images 12 months ago

Chika Shimada, a clerk for a souvenir shop holds a doll featuring US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama in front of "I Love Obama'" poster in Obama city Fukui prefecure, on November 4, 2008. It may not quite be the party planned by Barack Obama's home city of Chicago, but a Japanese town named Obama is pulling out the stops in the hope its adopted son will win the White House next week. This ancient fishing town of 32,000 people -- Obama means "small shore" in Japanese -- has been rooting for the Democratic senator from Illinois ever since he became a viable candidate for the American presidency. Voting started in the US presidential election on November 4 when polls opened in the northeastern state of Vermont, a local electoral official told.

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  9. U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (L) greets U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ)(2nd L), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH)(2nd R) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) after a meeting between Congressional leadership and President Barack Obama on Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House in Washington, October 6, 2009.
  10. L-R: House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-OH, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-MD, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, and Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member John McCain walk on a path on the North Lawn of the White House following a meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan with US President Barack Obama October 6, 2009 in Washington, DC.
  11. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, speaks to reporters as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-NV, looks on in front of the West Wing after a meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan with US President Barack Obama October 6, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama Tuesday sat down with senior lawmakers driving a raging debate on US Afghan strategy, as he works towards a decision on whether to send thousands more troops to war. Democratic and Republican leaders plus top members of key congressional committees met the president at the White House touting sharply conflicting visions of the next steps in the unpopular eight-year US military operation. Obama is methodically working through an internal policy review after US commander General Stanley McChrystal warned the war could be lost within a year without more troops, and reportedly asked for 40,000 more men.
  12. House Minority Leader John Boehner (C), R-OH, chats with Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member John McCain (L), R-AZ, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, near the West Wing after a meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan with US President Barack Obama October 6, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama Tuesday sat down with senior lawmakers driving a raging debate on US Afghan strategy, as he works towards a decision on whether to send thousands more troops to war. Democratic and Republican leaders plus top members of key congressional committees met the president at the White House touting sharply conflicting visions of the next steps in the unpopular eight-year US military operation. Obama is methodically working through an internal policy review after US commander General Stanley McChrystal warned the war could be lost within a year without more troops, and reportedly asked for 40,000 more men.
  13. WASHINGTON - OCTOBER 06: U.S Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (R) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) (L) walk away from reporters after talking outside the White House following a meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama along with other members of Congress October 6, 2009 in Washington, DC. Obama met with Congressional leadership and the chairs and ranking members of the relevant committees to discuss planning for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  14. U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) speak about their meeting between Congressional leadership and President Barack Obama on Afghanistan and Pakistan at the White House in Washington, October 6, 2009.
  15. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-CA, speaks to reporters in front of the West Wing after a meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan with US President Barack Obama October 6, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama Tuesday sat down with senior lawmakers driving a raging debate on US Afghan strategy, as he works towards a decision on whether to send thousands more troops to war. Democratic and Republican leaders plus top members of key congressional committees met the president at the White House touting sharply conflicting visions of the next steps in the unpopular eight-year US military operation. Obama is methodically working through an internal policy review after US commander General Stanley McChrystal warned the war could be lost within a year without more troops, and reportedly asked for 40,000 more men.
  16. House Minority Leader John Boehner (C), R-OH, speaks to reporters as Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member John McCain (L), R-AZ, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-KY, look on in front of the West Wing after a meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan with US President Barack Obama October 6, 2009 at the White House in Washington, DC. Obama Tuesday sat down with senior lawmakers driving a raging debate on US Afghan strategy, as he works towards a decision on whether to send thousands more troops to war. Democratic and Republican leaders plus top members of key congressional committees met the president at the White House touting sharply conflicting visions of the next steps in the unpopular eight-year US military operation. Obama is methodically working through an internal policy review after US commander General Stanley McChrystal warned the war could be lost within a year without more troops, and reportedly asked for 40,000 more men.

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