Bookies bank on Obama win

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By Joseph Curl

Forget the pollsters. Look to the bookies.

Ireland's largest bookmaker, Paddy Power, on Thursday declared the U.S. presidential race over and paid out bettors banking on a Barack Obama victory.

"We're certain Senator Obama will become President Obama so we're paying out over 1,000,000 euro on him to win the election," it said.

Before the payout, Sen. John McCain's odds of winning the presidency stood at 5-1, while Mr. Obama was a heavy favorite at 1-9. That means a $10 bet on the long-shot Republican could win $50; a $10 wager on the heavily favored Democrat will pocket just $1.10.

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"Look, if this were a two-horse race, one horse would be so far in front that the horse in second place could hardly see him," said bookie spokesman Ken Robertson.

The latest European odds on the presidential campaign paint a gloomier picture than American pollsters, and the bookmakers see the chance of a McCain comeback dropping daily.