AS AMERICANS prepare to cast their vote for president, the Guardian spoke to residents of Woodford County, Illinois and Epping, New Hampshire, to find out whether they think Democrat Barack Obama or Republican Mitt Romney will emerge victorious.

Woodford County, Illinois, shares a rich political history, and conservative tradition, with Woodford Green.

While Winston Churchill was the local MP this side of the pond, a young Abraham Lincoln once practised as a lawyer in Woodford County back in 1841.

The area has voted Republican almost ever since, despite Illinois being the home of Barack Obama and polling Democrat for the last five elections.

Doctor Junius Rodriguez, professor of history and chair of social science at Woodford County's Eureka College, believes the area will vote roughly along the same lines again this time around.

The 55-year-old Democrat said: "It's certainly not a swing state. Folks will hold their votes pretty close to their chests but I think here it will be a Republican vote and a Democrat one across the state.

"But the TV debates have changed things. There was a lot of interest here about them and we actually held a few events on campus in the evening to come together and discuss them.

"It's going to be a mix at the college but the area as a whole is quite conservative."

Cllr Chris Sununu, who represents Epping on the Executive State Council of New Hampshire, said he thinks his state could swing either way, with a less predictable electorate than in true blue Epping, UK.

The Republican said: "It really could go either way and I've actually campaigned with Mitt Romney here.

"It is crazy at the moment. Drives are covered with party leaflets and the media's on us because though it's only four electoral votes, when the candidates are neck and neck they do matter."

Epping has voted Republican in 2010 and 2008 but voted Democrat in 2006 and 2004, although Cllr Sununu, 37, said it is leaning towards a Republican victory this year.

"It's hard to live here and have a disdain for politics," he added. "Everyone takes it seriously and really makes you work for their vote."