U.S. presidential candidates Barack Obama and Mitt Romney make a final sweep through crucial battleground states on the eve of the election.

Obama has criss crossed the country to try and secure maximum votes in this cliff hanger election that sees both candidates neck and neck.

SOUNDBITE (English) PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA SAYING:

"Tomorrow from the granite of New Hampshire to the Rockies of Colorado, from the coastlines of Florida to Virginia's rolling hills, from the valleys of Ohio to these Iowa fields we will keep America moving forward."

The president appeared to have a slight edge in the states that will decide who captures the 270 electoral votes needed to win on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Republican challenger Mitt Romney repeated his latest mantra in Ohio pleading with the electorate to ditch the old and vote in the new

(SOUNDBITE) (English) REPUBLICAN PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MITT ROMNEY SAYING:

"I know the President wants you to think of all sorts of diversionary issues to decide what's key in this election but I think the election comes down to this question, do you want four more years like the last four years or do you want real change?"

Romney's path to the White House becomes much harder should he lose Ohio.