Bush votes in hard-fought US election

WACO: US President George W Bush voted on Tuesday in down-to-the-wire US legislative elections shaped by anger over the Iraq war and urged Americans to turn out and cast ballots nationwide.   

"Our government is only as good as the willingness of our people to participate in it," he said outside the fire station in his tiny adoptive hometown of Crawford, Texas.   

"Therefore, no matter your party affiliation, or if you don't have a party affiliation, do your duty, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard," Bush said one day after wrapping up a 10-state blitz for his Republicans.   

He was to return to Washington later in the day to watch the results come in.   

A recent batch of national public opinion polls gave opposition Democrats an edge in the fight for the Senate and House of Representatives, but some showed a late burst of energy for the president's party.   

The contest will decide the political landscape for Bush's last two years in office and will shape the 2008 battle to decide his successor.   

Democrats needed to pick up six of the 33 Senate seats up for grabs to win that chamber and 15 seats to capture the House of Representatives, where all 435 spots were in play.