Americans trooped to the polls from coast to coast Tuesday with the troubled economy the top issue for many voters, as they patiently braved long lines eager to play their part in history.

`These days, no one is hiring, stores are closing, people are losing their homes and crime is rising. It`s getting worse and worse,` said Darius Thomas, 29, an unemployed construction worker, supporting Democrat Barack Obama.

Bob Ceckitti, 61, a retired Columbus homicide detective and Vietnam War veteran, also cast a ballot at the Forest Park Elementary School here for Obama over Republican White House rival John McCain.

`Senator Obama has concentrated his efforts on explaining his agenda for turning American around and the Republicans have concentrated their efforts on trying to discrediting Senator Obama,` he said.

Even NASA astronauts got to vote in space, as turnout across the United States was reported to be heavy at the climax of the longest and most expensive presidential race in US history.

Obama, the 47-year-old senator from Illinois bidding to become America`s first African-American president, led in the final opinion polls going into the race including in Ohio and traditionally Republican Virginia.

At a polling station in Vienna, Virginia, Kevin Nesko, a Republican precinct captain, was pessimistic about his party`s chances but pleased with the high turnout.

At Nesko`s Nottoway precinct, 1,142 of more than 4,000 registered voters had voted by 10:00 am, in addition to the 25 percent who already voted absentee.

`For this number of people to have turned out at this time of day is phenomenal,` said Nesko. `We may not like the outcome, but we love the fact that everyone is here voting.`

In Blacksburg, a Democratic stronghold in southwest Virginia, Elaine Daily, a 55-year-old reading teacher, said she voted for Obama. `I feel he can do something to help restore the economy and end the war. I think he is the one who will help bring change,` she said.

Another voter, Norma Jean Lundis, said she went for McCain.

`McCain stands for what I believe in -- less government, lets me control my money, the right to bear arms, life begins at conception, marriage between man and woman,` she said. `He`s a true American hero.`

In the Houston, Texas, suburb of Cypress, Obama supporters were hard to come by and the Republican ticket’s stance on abortion seemed to be a big draw for many.

Crista Merrell, a 32-year-old mother of three, said she cast her vote for McCain and his vice presidential pick Sarah Palin because she aligned with them on moral issues.

`My family and I are strongly pro-life,` she said. `A lot of times we align with the Democrats on economic policy but some issues we feel strong about and that includes pro-life and how we define marriage.`

Amanda Jones, 29, said she voted for McCain-Palin and `felt like I was casting a vote for the unborn.`

In Lake Worth, Florida, the southern state considered crucial to the hopes of both Obama and McCain, Jenna Sokolobsky said she voted for McCain.

`My brother has served four times in Iraq and I like his stance on protecting our country,` said the 24-year-old from Boynton Beach.

Laura Burke, 46, of Lake Worth, went for Obama. `There was no way in hell I would put Sarah Palin in the presidency. The running mates is what it came down to for me,` she said.

At a polling station in downtown Washington, a line stretched around the block as black, white, Latino and Asian voters, some carrying young children, waited patiently to cast their ballots.

Alnett Wooten, 86, carried an American flag with her.

`I never thought I would live long enough to do it,` she said of voting for a black president. `I just pray that He will keep him safe.`

In Decatur, Georgia, at the Avondale Middle School, Karla Stumpo, 35, an accountant with the Cartoon Network in Atlanta, said she voted for McCain though she`s `not really happy with either candidate.`

`It`s the lesser of two evils,` she said of her vote for the 72-year-old senator from Arizona.

Also voting on Tuesday were two NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

Commander Edward Michael Fincke and Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff voted by secure electronic ballot uplinked by NASA`s Johnson Space Center Mission Control Center to the orbiting space center, NASA said.

Voters leaving the polls were given a sticker saying `I voted,` making them eligible for numerous company `freebies` including a free coffee at Starbucks or a free scoop of ice cream at Ben & Jerry`s.