DUE TO THE LIVE NATURE OF TONIGHT, WE APOLOGISE FOR THE LACK OF CAPTIONS FOR SOME ITEMS. TONIGHT ` THE NEXT FOUR YEARS IS BEING DECIDED NOW. AMERICANS GO TO THE POLLS TO ELECT A PRESIDENT. THERE COULD BE SACKINGS AT THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOLLOWING A DAMNING REPORT OVER THE PIKE RIVER MINING DISASTER. CLOSE BUT NOT CLOSE ENOUGH ` A YOUNG K JOCKEY ADMITS HE IS DISAPPOINTED AT WHAT ALMOST WAS. THE VOTING'S BEGUN, AND THE FIRST RESULTS ARE IN JUST HOURS AFTER BARACK OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY MADE THEIR FINAL DESPERATE APPEALS FOR VOTES. BOTH CANDIDATES AGAIN TOOK IN THE BATTLEGROUND STATE OF OHIO. MITT ROMNEY ENDED UP IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WHERE HE LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN 18 MONTHS AGO. AND THE PRESIDENT FINISHED HIS LAST PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IN HIS HOME TOWN OF CHICAGO. THE ABC'S CRAIG MCMURTRIE IS WITH THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN. THE LAST FULL DAY OF THE 2012 CAMPAIGN WAS PREDICTABLY FRANTIC. BARACK OBAMA BEGAN IN MADISON, WISCONSIN; HE CAME HERE, TO OHIO, ONE LAST TIME AND FINISHED UP IN IOWA, A SYMBOLIC VISIT ` IT'S WHERE HIS RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY REALLY TOOK OFF FIVE YEARS AGO. BECAUSE WIN OR LOSE, HE CAN'T RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE AGAIN, TODAY REALLY WAS BARACK OBAMA'S LAST CAMPAIGN DAY. WITH THE ROMNEY BLIMP FLYING OVERHEAD, IN COLUMBUS, OHIO, THEY LINED UP ONE LAST TIME AND WAITED ` FOR HOURS. OBAMA SUPPORTERS LIKE VALERIE SPALDING, AT HER THIRD RALLY; ALL CHANT: FOUR MORE YEARS! ...AND KURT DOVE, WHO BROUGHT HIS SONS. AND I'M GLAD. THAT'S WHY I BROUGHT MY BOYS FOR THIS, COS I KNEW THAT THIS WAS VERY IMPORTANT. TOOK THEM OUT OF SCHOOL ` I THOUGHT IT WAS IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THAT TO HAPPEN. SO THAT'S WHY WE'RE ALL HERE TODAY. I CAME DOWN TODAY BECAUSE JUST IN CASE IT'S HIS LAST HOORAH, I WANNA BE HERE FOR IT. UPWARDS OF 20,000 FILED IN, BUT FOUR YEARS ON, IT ISN'T THE SAME ` THERE ARE EMPTY SEATS. THIS IS THE DAY BEFORE THE DAY WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. ON HIS LAST VISIT TO OHIO, BARACK OBAMA HAD THE HELP OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND JAY-Z. RAPS: # ALLOW ME TO REINTRODUCE MYSELF ` MY NAME IS... # ARE YOU FIRED UP? CROWD CHANTS: YEAH! HE MIGHT NOT HAVE MUCH VOICE LEFT; THEY DO. CROWD CHANTS: FIRED UP! I'M GONNA BE FLYING WITH BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN ON THE LAST DAY THAT I'LL EVER CAMPAIGN. THAT'S NOT A BAD WAY TO BRING IT HOME ` WITH THE BOSS. WITH THE BOSS. EVEN WITH THE STAR POWER, IT'S HARD TO SEE HOW A BIG RALLY LIKE THIS SHIFTS VOTES AT THE LAST MINUTE. OF COURSE, THAT ISN'T THE INTENT. THESE ARE THE PARTY FAITHFUL. THE MISSION HERE ` GETTING REGISTERED DEMOCRATS TO TURN OUT TOMORROW. THE LAST DAY WAS A SWEEP OF THE AMERICAN MIDWEST. IN 2012, THE US PRESIDENT'S FIGHTING HARD TO HANG ON TO WISCONSIN AND IOWA ` STATES HE WON FOUR YEARS AGO. THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN SAYS THE LAST-DITCH EFFORT BY MITT ROMNEY TO SPRING A SURPRISE IN PENNSYLVANIA IS A HAIL-MARY PASS. CROWD CHANTS TOMORROW WE GET THE CHANCE TO FINISH WHAT WE STARTED HERE IN IOWA. AFTER COUNTLESS RALLIES, HE ENDED HIS LAST CAMPAIGN IN IOWA, THE STATE WHERE HE LAUNCHED HIS UNLIKELY BID FOR THE WHITE HOUSE YEARS AGO. IT'S BEEN A LONG SIX-YEAR JOURNEY FOR MITT ROMNEY. HIS FINAL DAY OF THIS CAMPAIGN BEGAN IN FLORIDA, CRUCIAL TO HIS CHANCES OF WINNING. HIS MESSAGE IS THAT HE'S NOW THE CANDIDATE OF CHANGE, AND HE'S COUNTING ON INDEPENDENT-MINDED VOTERS TO PUSH HIM OVER THE LINE. FROM BOSTON, THE ABC'S LISA MILLAR REPORTS. CROWD CHANTS: WE WANT MITT! WE WANT MITT! WITH THE HOURS SLIPPING AWAY, MITT ROMNEY SPRINTED THROUGH THE SWING STATES. BACK-TO-BACK EVENTS, EACH TIME A DIFFERENT CROWD BUT THE SAME MESSAGE. THE DOOR TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE IS OPEN. IT'S WAITING FOR US. I NEED YOUR VOTE. I NEED YOUR HELP. WALK WITH ME. IN VIRGINIA, FLORIDA, NEW HAMPSHIRE AND OHIO, THEY CAME FILLED WITH HOPE THAT THEIR MAN WOULD END UP IN THE WHITE HOUSE. I AM EXTREMELY HOPEFUL. I LOVE MY COUNTRY TOO, AND SO I HOPE IT GETS THE PRESIDENT IT DESERVES. IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL FOR AMERICA BECAUSE I BELIEVE IF WE DON'T TURN THINGS AROUND NOW, OUR CHILDREN WILL SUFFER, AND THEIR CHILDREN. IT'S THE END OF WHAT'S BEEN A BRUISING CAMPAIGN. MONEY'S TIGHT. PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO BUY ANYTHING, NECESSARILY, THAT THEY DON'T NECESSARILY NEED. UM, AND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE LOSING THEIR HOMES. MITT ROMNEY SAYS HE'LL PUT AN END TO THE POLITICAL BATTLES THAT HAVE CONSUMED WASHINGTON. HE PROMISED TO BE A POST-PARTISAN PRESIDENT, BUT HE'S THE MOST PARTISAN - BLAMING, ATTACKING, DIVIDING. AND IT'S NOT ONLY REPUBLICANS HE'S REFUSED TO LISTEN TO; IT'S ALSO INDEPENDENTS. HORNS SOUND BUT HE'S NOT STOPPING YET ` CAMPAIGNING UNTIL THE POLLS CLOSE, ANNOUNCING TWO MORE SWING-STATE VISITS AS ELECTION DAY DAWNS. IT WILL BE THE CAMPAIGN'S GROUND OPERATION THAT WILL DETERMINE IF THE REPUBLICAN GETS ACROSS THE LINE. IN INDIANA, VOTERS SHIVERED IN THE COLD AS THEY WAITED TO DELIVER THEIR VERDICT. WHILE THE NATIONAL POLLS MAY BE UNNERVINGLY TIGHT FOR THE CANDIDATES, THE PRESIDENCY IS WON OR LOST IN THE STATES ` THE CRITICAL ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES. HERE, THE CAMPAIGN COMES DOWN TO A HANDFUL OF STATES FOR THE 270 VOTES THE CANDIDATES NEED. MITT ROMNEY HAD BEEN CLOSING THE GAP, BUT LAST WEEK'S DEADLY HURRICANE PROVED TO BE SOMETHING OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER TO HIS CAMPAIGN MOMENTUM. HE'S SPENT THE LAST FEW DAYS FRANTICALLY TRYING TO GET IT BACK. HE'LL SOON KNOW IF IT'S WORKED AS THIS LONG AND COSTLY ELECTION DRAWS TO A CLOSE. AND THE RESULTS FROM THE FIRST POLLING STATION TO OPEN IN THE CLIFFHANGER ELECTIONS SHOWS A DRAW. JUST LIKE THE NECK-AND-NECK POLLING, BARACK OBAMA AND MITT ROMNEY EACH RECEIVED FIVE VOTES IN THE TINY NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWN OF DIXVILLE NOTCH. THE POLLS ARE CLOSED. THE TOWN, WITH A POPULATION OF 12, HAS A HISTORY OF PICKING THE PRESIDENT. AND YOU CAN STAY UP TO DATE ON THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE WITH ONE NEWS. SIMON DALLOW IS HOSTING A US ELECTION SPECIAL FROM 4.30 TOMORROW AFTERNOON. WE'RE ALSO LIVE STREAMING ON OUR WEBSITE, ONENEWS.CO.NZ, AND YOU CAN HAVE YOUR SAY ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE OR ON TWITTER. BACK HERE AND THE FALLOUT OVER THE DAMNING REPORT INTO THE PIKE RIVER MINE DISASTER. THE MINISTER HAS ALREADY QUIT, AND NOW SOME FORMER LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS COULD BE SACKED. THE DEPARTMENT WHICH IS CHARGE OF MINE SAFETY IS REVIEWING THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S FINDINGS TO SEE IF HEADS SHOULD ROLL. GEORGINA BALL REPORTS. THE ROYAL COMMISSION'S FINDINGS HAVE MADE IT ACROSS THE GLOBE TO SCOTLAND AND TO THE PARENTS OF PIKE RIVER VICTIM MALCOLM CAMPBELL. THEY'VE SPENT HOURS READING THE REPORT, LOOKING FOR ANSWERS AS TO WHY THEIR SON AND 28 OTHERS LOST THEIR LIVES. IT'S BEEN HORRENDOUS FOR US FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS WONDERING WHAT'S GOING TO COME OUT, BUT I THINK WE'LL BE QUITE SATISFIED. BUT MALCOLM SNR IS LESS SATISFIED THAT KATE WILKINSON'S RESIGNED ONLY AS LABOUR MINISTER AND WILL STAY IN CABINET. AND HE'S NOT ALONE. I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO HAVE A REVIEW OF HER PERFORMANCE AS A MINISTER IN OTHER AREAS, YES. KATE WILKINSON'S NOW BEING FORCED TO DEFEND HER DECISION TO KEEP HER OTHER PORTFOLIOS WHICH WILL ALSO SEE HER KEEP HER PERKS AND $250,000 SALARY. WHAT HAVE I DONE WRONG? DO YOU THINK YOU'VE BEEN MADE A SCAPEGOAT, AND OTHER PEOPLE SHOULD LOSE THEIR JOBS? NO, I DON'T. NO, I MADE A PERSONAL DECISION, THANKS. THAT'S ALL I WANT TO SAY. AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS WHO'VE SO FAR REFUSED TO RESIGN OVER THE MINE DISASTER COULD STILL LOSE THEIR JOBS. THE RENAMED LABOUR DEPARTMENT, NOW CALLED THE MINISTRY FOR BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND EMPLOYMENT, IS LAUNCHING AN INVESTIGATION INTO WHO ELSE MIGHT BE AT FAULT. I WILL BE DOING A THOROUGH REVIEW OF THE REPORT AND ADDRESS ANY EMPLOYMENT MATTERS THAT ARISE FROM THAT REPORT. MEANWHILE, ON THE WEST COAST, THREE INTERNATIONAL MINE EXPERTS HAVE PAID THEIR OWN WAY TO GREYMOUTH, HOPING THEY CAN HELP THE PIKE FAMILIES RETRIEVE THE BODIES OF THEIR MEN. RE-ENTERING INTO SEALED MINES ISN'T NEW. IT MIGHT BE NEW FOR YOU; IT'S CERTAINLY NOT NEW FOR ME. IT'S NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION, BUT IT'S A SITUATION FRAUGHT WITH RISK AND EMOTION. IT'S A RAY OF HOPE FOR SOME, BUT OTHERS ARE LESS CONFIDENT THEY'LL EVER LAY THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS TO REST. AS FOR MALCOLM AND SOME OF THE REST OF THEM THAT WE KNOW WERE FURTHER UP THE MINE, I DON'T HOLD NO HOPE TO GET THEM OUT. IT BREAKS MY HEART TO SAY THAT, BUT I DON'T THINK WE'LL EVER GET HIM HOME. WHAT THEY'RE MORE HOPEFUL OF IS THAT THE LESSONS ARE LEARNED FROM PIKE RIVER DISASTER. GEORGINA BALL, ONE NEWS. A LEADING PAEDIATRICIAN SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY THE INJURIES THAT KILLED TODDLER JJ LAWRENCE WERE ACCIDENTAL. JOEL LOFFLEY, WHO'S ON TRIAL FOR THE TWO-YEAR-OLD'S MURDER, TOLD POLICE JJ FELL OFF HIS BED AND HIT A WALL. BUT DR PATRICK KELLY SAYS THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ENOUGH TO CAUSE THE CHILD'S VITAL ORGANS TO SPLIT IN HALF. THE ONLY COMPARABLE SITUATION THAT I COULD IMAGINE YOU WOULD SEE AN INJURY LIKE THIS, IS A CHILD UNRESTRAINED IN A HIGH-VELOCITY MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT. OR IN A CONTEXT OF CHILD ABUSE, A CHILD WHO'S BEEN KICKED OR PUNCHED IN THE ABDOMEN. DR KELLY ALSO SAID JJ HAD MORE BRUISES AND ABRASIONS ON HIS BODY THAN IS NORMAL FOR A CHILD HIS AGE. MORE EVIDENCE HAS BEEN HEARD AT THE CTV INQUEST ABOUT THE CONFUSION AND A LACK OF COMMAND AND EQUIPMENT AT THE SITE. LISA DAVIES IS COVERING THE HEARING INTO THE DEATHS OF THOSE WHO SURVIVED THE INITIAL COLLAPSE. A USAR WORKER RELIVING THE HOURS SPENT DEEP IN THE RUBBLE OF THE CTV BUILDING. THE POSSIBILITY OF ME BECOMING A VICTIM DID CROSS MY MIND. BUT AS THERE WERE STILL PEOPLE UNACCOUNTED FOR, I WAS GOING TO DO MY BEST TO GET THEM HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WAS TAMARA CVETANOVA. SHE WAS FIGHTING HER OWN BATTLE BENEATH THE DEBRIS. SHE HAD LOST HER FINGERS. SHE COULD NOT TEXT. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS USING HER TEETH TO ANSWER THE PHONE. HE TOLD THE CORONER THE SEARCH FOR HER WAS FRUSTRATED BY A LACK OF CRUCIAL EQUIPMENT LIKE DRILLS AND CAMERAS. WE WOULD GO THROUGH A FLOOR SLAB WITH A CORE DRILL AND ENABLE US TO PUT A CAMERA DOWN UNDERNEATH AND MAYBE SEARCH FOR POTENTIAL SURVIVORS. SOME OF THAT EQUIPMENT WAS DELAYED IN ARRIVING IN CHRISTCHURCH AFTER A DECISION TO SEND IT BY ROAD RATHER THAN FLY IT IN WITH THE USAR TASKFORCE WHO WOULD USE IT. AND THAT'S NOT ALL THAT WAS MISSING ACCORDING TO STATION OFFICER SASKIA ROSE. WE WERE MISSING PEOPLE AT THE TOP. SHE SAYS THE LACK OF FIRE SERVICE AUTHORITY AND THE LACK OF TRAINING WAS OBVIOUS. WE NEEDED AND STILL NEED BETTER TRAINING. I DO NOT FEEL WE ARE ANY BETTER PREPARED THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE EARTHQUAKE. SHE WAS COMMENDED FOR HER FRANKNESS AFTER TELLING THE HEARING IF A MASSIVE QUAKE HIT NOW, THE FIRE SERVICE RESPONSE WOULD BE NO DIFFERENT. WE GAVE IT OUR BEST. WE TURNED UP THERE WITH THE INTENTION OF RESCUING EVERYONE, AND WE RISKED OUR LIVES IN DOING THIS. ALTHOUGH ALEC CVETANOV'S WIFE DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT ALIVE, HE MADE A POINT OF ACKNOWLEDGING MANU CLARKSON AS HE LEFT THE INQUEST. LISA DAVIES, ONE NEWS. THERE'S BEEN A GRIM WARNING FOLLOWING THE TAKEOVER OF FISHER AND PAYKEL BY CHINESE COMPANY HAIER. THE NZ MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION HAS TOLD ONE NEWS IT BELIEVES JOBS WILL INEVITABLY SHIFT OFF-SHORE. HAIER'S NOW GAINED MORE THAN 90% OF FISHER AND PAYKEL'S SHARES, ALLOWING IT TO ACQUIRE THE REST. LABOUR SAYS IT'S VITAL HAIER IS HELD TO ASSURANCES THAT FISHER AND PAYKEL'S RESEARCH WILL STAY IN NZ. AIR NZ WILL SHED 70 LONDON-BASED JOBS NEXT YEAR AFTER AXING ITS HONG KONG-TO-LONDON SERVICE. CHIEF EXECUTIVE ROB FYFE SAYS THE ROUTE WILL BE CANCELLED IN MARCH TO SAVE MONEY. AND THE BAD NEWS DOESN'T END THERE ` TECHNOLOGY COMPANY RAKON IS ALSO AXING JOBS IN NZ TO CUT COSTS. RAKON MAKES CRYSTAL COMPONENTS USED IN IPHONES AND IS MOVING MORE OF ITS MANUFACTURING TO CHINA AND INDIA. 60 JOBS WILL GO, WHICH RAKON SAYS WILL SAVE IT $10M A YEAR. JUST AHEAD ` A WEEK AFTER THE HURRICANE, STILL NO POWER AND BASIC SERVICES. WHY STRUGGLING NEW YORKERS ARE FURIOUS. AND WHO'S HE NUTS ABOUT? WE FIND OUT WHO GNOCCHI THE SQUIRREL IS PICKING TO WIN THE U.S ELECTION. 1 GREECE HAS BEGUN A 48-HOUR GENERAL STRIKE ACROSS PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS IN PROTEST AGAINST ANOTHER WAVE OF AUSTERITY MEASURES. PROTEST MARCHES, WHICH REGULARLY END IN VIOLENT CLASHES WITH POLICE, ARE PLANNED FOR THE CENTRE OF ATHENS. THE GREEK GOVERNMENT MUST ENDORSE MAJOR SPENDING CUTS TO RECEIVE A 31 BILLION EURO BAILOUT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION AND THE INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND. THE AUSTERITY PROPOSALS INCLUDE A FIFTH CONSECUTIVE CUT TO PENSIONS, AN INCREASE IN THE RETIREMENT AGE AND REDUCTIONS TO SALARIES ` ALL FUELLING ANGER AMONG GREEKS. BACK TO THE UNITED STATES, AND THE OTHER MAIN STORY IS THE AFTERMATH OF HURRICANE SANDY. AND NEW YORK'S ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO COMPLAINTS OF OUTRAGEOUS PRICE HIKES FOLLOWING THE STORM. MORE THAN A MILLION PEOPLE IN NEW JERSEY AND NEW YORK CITY ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER A WEEK AFTER THE STORM HIT. THE ABC'S LINSEY DAVIS HAS THE STORY. NEW YORK CITY KIDS WENT BACK TO SCHOOL TODAY, MOST BIG APPLE SUBWAYS UP AND RUNNING, AND THOSE GAS LINES STILL LONG, BUT GETTING SHORTER AS THE NEW SUPPLY MAKES ITS WAY TO THE BATTERED STORM ZONE. BUT IN THE HARD-HIT ROCKAWAYS NEIGHBOURHOOD, JANE MERINO IS AT HER BREAKING POINT. GET US THE SERVICES THAT EVERYBODY NEEDS OUT HERE. WE'RE DESPERATE. AFTER THE STORM, JANE STAYED BEHIND WITH HER ELDERLY PARENTS. THE AMBULANCE FOR HER MOTHER COULDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE SAND-CLOGGED STREETS. I'VE RESORTED TO PUTTING ON THE GAS JETS ON THE STOVE. THEY ARE AMONG 1.4 MILLION PEOPLE STILL WITHOUT POWER IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE SANDY ` 115,000 OF THEM RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK CITY. WITH TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TO DIP BELOW FREEZING TONIGHT, HYPOTHERMIA IS A REAL THREAT, ESPECIALLY FOR THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG CHILDREN. SANDY'S DEATH TOLL IS AT 106 PEOPLE ` 40 IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE ` AND THE COLD BRINGS FRESH FEAR. THIS EVENING, NYC PATROL OFFICERS WILL USE LOUDSPEAKERS TO URGE PEOPLE TO GO WHERE THEY CAN BE WARM. MOST SHELTERS STILL HAVE BEDS AVAILABLE, BUT SOME ROCKAWAY RESIDENTS ` LIKE KATIE RICHARDSON, WHO I FIRST MET LAST WEEK ` AREN'T INTERESTED. IT'S OUR HOME. IT'S OUR HOME. WOULD YOU LEAVE YOUR PLACE, AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE GONNA LOOT? THE CITY ESTIMATES ABOUT 10,000 PEOPLE IN BATTERED BUILDINGS AND HOMES WILL NEED EMERGENCY TEMPORARY HOUSING, BUT FOR THE MERINOS IN THE ROCKAWAYS, THE CONCERN IS MORE IMMEDIATE. THEY CAN HARDLY SLEEP, TERRIFIED ABOUT THE NOR-EASTER IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY. I JUST PRAY THAT EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT. (SNIFFS) WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO? ONE BIG CONCERN ABOUT THIS NOR'EASTER ` AND THERE ARE MANY ` IS THE WIND AND WHAT IT WILL DO TO THESE HUGE MOUNDS OF SAND. ALL THIS SAND HERE MAKES THE ROADS PRETTY MUCH IMPASSABLE. BOMB ATTACKS ACROSS SYRIA HAVE KILLED DOZENS OF PEOPLE IN ONE OF THE BLOODIEST DAYS SINCE THE UPRISING BEGAN AGAINST PRESIDENT BASHAR AL-ASSAD 20 MONTHS AGO. THESE PICTURES ON STATE TV, BUT NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED, SHOW EXTENSIVE DAMAGE CAUSED BY A BLAST BLAMED ON AN ISLAMIST SUICIDE CAR BOMBER. AN EARLIER ATTACK KILLED AT LEAST 50 GOVERNMENT SECURITY OFFICERS, ACCORDING TO OPPOSITION GROUPS. A MILITARY PARADE IN PERU'S ENDED IN SPECTACULAR FASHION AFTER A SOLDIER ACCIDENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. HIS CLOTHES ERUPTED IN FLAMES AFTER HE STEPPED ON A FLARE IN THE NORTHERN CITY OF SULLANA. THE MAN STAGGERED AROUND AS OTHER SOLDIERS AND BYSTANDERS SCRAMBLED, FRANTICALLY TRYING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. HIS BURNING OUTFIT WAS EVENTUALLY PULLED OFF HIM, AND HE WAS RUSHED TO HOSPITAL TO BE TREATED FOR SECOND-DEGREE BURNS. RETURNING TO THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE, AND YOU'D BE A RICH PERSON IF YOU COULD PREDICT THE WINNER. BOTH PARTIES AND NEWS OUTLETS HAVE SPENT MILLIONS ON RESEARCH AND POLLS, GIVING THEM A BETTER STEER ON WHO MIGHT COME OUT ON TOP. BUT NOT ALL SURVEYS ARE SCIENTIFIC AS OUR U.S CORRESPONDENT JACK TAME EXPLAINS. CHOICE ` AT THE 7-ELEVEN COFFEE BAR, THERE'S ALREADY PLENTY OF IT. PUMPKIN SPICE, BUTTER TOFFEE, CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE?! WHATEVER THAT IS. AND NOW THERE'S ANOTHER DECISION FOR VOTERS TO MULL OVER AS THEY GET THEIR CAFFEINE HIT. < SO, WHY DID YOU GO WITH THE BLUE CUP? LESS TAXES. YOU SEE, EVERYONE AGREES THE RACE FOR THE WHITE HOUSE IS... ...TIGHT. SO TIGHT, IN FACT, AT 7-ELEVEN THEY'RE HAVING A 7-ELECTION - A VERY UNSCIENTIFIC POLL ABOUT WHO MIGHT WIN JUDGED SOLELY BY RED AND BLUE COFFEE CUPS. SOME DAYS, BLUES CUPS FLY. OTHER DAYS, RED CUPS FLY. RED IS FOR ROMNEY; BLUE FOR OBAMA, AND THOUGH THOMAS THE 7-ELEVEN MAN IS STAYING NEUTRAL THIS TIME, HE RECKONS THE SPLIT IN HIS STORE'S ABOUT EVEN. SOMETIMES SOME PEOPLE MAY TAKE TWO CUPS. EVEN THROUGH THEY BUY ONE CUP OF COFFEE, THEY TAKE TWO CUPS. PROBABLY A SWING VOTER. REMEMBER, THOUGH, THIS ELECTION... ...COULD COME DOWN TO THE WIRE. YOU'D BE FOOLISH TO FOLLOW JUST ONE PREDICTION. YOU KNOW, THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS LOST THEIR HOME GAME LAST NIGHT. IF SUPERSTITIONS HOLD TRUE, THAT APPARENTLY MEANS ROMNEY WILL WIN. AND IN THE SPIRIT OF PAUL THE OCTOPUS AND ALL THOSE REDICULOS PROPHETIC ANIMALS, GNOCCHI THE SQUIRREL APPARENTLY PICKED NUTS FROM OBAMA'S BOWL. AT 7-ELEVEN, THOUGH, NATIONWIDE, OBAMA'S AHEAD IN THE CUP COUNT, AND THOUGH COREY FROM THE COASTGUARD APPARENTLY MISUNDERSTOOD THE CONCEPT,... WHY DID YOU GO WITH BLUE? > OH, WHY I WENT TO THE COASTGUARD? NO! COREY! IT DOESN'T REALLY COUNT FOR MUCH. COS NO MATTER WHO WINS THE PRESIDENCY,... (CHUCKLES) AMERICAN COFFEE STILL AIN'T MUCH COP. JACK TAME, ONE NEWS, BOSTON. (GROANS, CHUCKLES) JUST AHEAD ` A SHOCK WINNER IN THE MELBOURNE CUP WHILE A K JOCKEY'S ALSO RIDING HIGH. IN A TRIUMPH FOR AUSTRALIAN TRAINERS, THE HORSE GREEN MOON HAS FENDED OFF BIG FOREIGN CHALLENGERS TO WIN THE MELBOURNE CUP. BUT THE DAY WAS MARRED BY CONTROVERSY AFTER A JOCKEY FACED ALLEGATIONS HE BET ON ONE OF HIS RACES TWO YEARS AGO. THIS FROM THE ABC'S AMY BAINBRIDGE. IT'S THE SPORT OF KINGS, AND ON THIS DAY IT TRULY WAS, WITH THE FUTURE KING ON HAND FOR THE FESTIVITIES. BUT THIS WAS A DAY FOR ALL. MORE THAN 100,000 PEOPLE POURED INTO FLEMINGTON'S PRISTINE GROUNDS. BY 11 O'CLOCK, THE UMBRELLAS WERE OUT. THE WEATHER'S PERFECT, SO WHAT MORE? OH, NOW IT'S RAINING. (LAUGHS) MANY BRAVED THE SKIES IN THE NAME OF FASHION. YOU CAN'T WEAR ANYTHING LIKE THIS ON ANY OTHER DAY, REALLY. HORSE RACING. SEE HOSIER. (LAUGHS) BUT THERE WAS NO LAUGHING FOR DAMIAN OLIVER THIS MORNING. REPORTS HE'S UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR BETTING ON A RIVAL HORSE TWO YEARS AGO RESURFACED AMID ALLEGATIONS HE'S ADMITTED TO THE BREACH. DID YOU FACE THE STEWARDS YESTERDAY? NO. AND WORD IS THAT YOU'VE ADMITTED THAT YOU DID PLACE THE BET. I'VE GOT NO COMMENT TO MAKE, MATE. THEY'RE OFF. AFTER A CLEAN START, FAVOURITES DUNADEN AND AMERICAIN WENT TO THE REAR OF THE FIELD, LEAVING GAI WATERHOUSE'S GLENCADAM GOLD TO LEAD. BUT DOWN THE STRAIGHT, GREEN MOON TOOK OVER, EASILY HOLDING OFF CHALLENGES FROM FIORENTE AND JAKKALBERRY. AND GREEN MOON WINS THE MELBOURNE CUP BY A LENGTH AND A HALF. IT'S THE FOURTH WIN FOR OWNER LLOYD WILLIAMS, WHO RECRUITED JOCKEY BRETT PREBBLE FROM HIS HONG KONG BASE. THAT'S FOR YOU, BOSS. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT, AND I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH. IT'S MY LIFE DREAM TO DO IT HERE AT HOME. I WISH TO SEE YOU AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I NEED TO SEE THE RACE AGAIN, BUT I'M JUST SO PROUD FOR ALL OUR TEAM AT THE FARM. EVERYONE PUTS IN SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT ` OF COURSE, LED BY DAD. AND IT'S ANOTHER MELBOURNE CUP TRIUMPH FOR TEAM WILLIAMS, AND I'M JUST ECSTATIC. PREBBLE WILL RETURN TO HONG KONG TOMORROW WITH HIS FIRST MELBOURNE CUP SAFELY IN HIS KEEPING. YOUNG NZ JOCKEY JAMES MACDONALD SAYS HE'S DISAPPOINTED NOT TO HAVE WON YESTERDAY'S MELBOURNE CUP. THE 20-YEAR-OLD FINISHED SECOND AND SAYS HE WASN'T FAR AWAY FROM STEALING THE GREAT RACE IN WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN A SENSATIONAL VICTORY IN HIS FIRST MELBOURNE CUP RIDE. AT FIRST, IT WAS A BIG THRILL, BUT, LOOK, FINISHING SECOND IN A MELBOURNE CUP, IT'S GETTING TO A POINT WHERE IT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST RACES IN THE WORLD. AND TO RUN SECOND'S A MASSIVE THRILL BUT A MASSIVE DOWNER AS WELL TO RUN SECOND WHERE YOU'RE ONLY SO FAR AWAY FROM WINNING THE MELBOURNE CUP. MACDONALD SAYS HE'S ALREADY RECEIVED OFFERS FROM CONNECTIONS TO RETURN TO MELBOURNE NEXT YEAR TO TRY AND GO ONE BETTER. NOW TO THE WEATHER. FOR WEATHER, SEE ONENEWS.CO.NZ THAT'S IT FROM US HERE ON TONIGHT. THANKS FOR WATCHING. GOODNIGHT. CAPTIONS BY CONOR WHITTEN AND VIRGINIA PHILP.