The 56th consecutive quadrennial US Presidential election gets underway on Tuesday November 4, 2008 and it promises to be one of the most hotly contested campaigns of recent years. With the US in the middle of a credit crunch, voters want change and want it now, leading to Barack Obama, a democrat, being an early favourite to take over from George W Bush. Both Betfair and Skybet recognise the importance of the Presidential election and are offering free bets on the outcome.

John McCain, the 72-year old Senator of Arizona, represents the Republicans and would become the oldest serving US President in history, should he win the election. The twice married, father of seven was famously captured during the Vietnam War and became a prisoner of war, a story that made the front pages of the papers back in the USA. Known also for his straight talking, McCain is a dominant figure in US politics. Should his campaign be successful, he will become the first President to be born outside of the current 50 US States, a fact that has caused some controversy.

Barack Obama, Junior Senator of Illinois is representing the Democratic Party. The 47-year old Christian was born in Honolulu, Hawaii but currently resides in Kenwood, Chicago, Illinois with his wife and two young daughters. Obama, a trained attorney, achieved a Juris Doctor (Law degree) from the world famous Harvard Law School. Should he win the election, Obama will become the first-ever US President of African-American origins.

Whichever candidate wins the US Presidential Election will have a mammoth task on their hands to turn the country around but both men are very strong characters and will be more than aware of the situation they will find themselves in. Two leading online bookmakers, Betfair and Skybet, are giving away free bets that can be used to place free bets on who will become the next president, Obama or McCain?