The opposition parties pulled out less than a week before the election, after an audit of voting machines found a piece of software that could record the order of votes.

ECONOMIST: Chávez’s clean sweep | The

McDonald pointed to the record number of early votes already cast in Georgia as an example of the high interest in the race.

CNN: Early voting suggests 2008 may see record turnout, expert says

Although he has spoken in support of free trade in the past (and voted for NAFTA), his more recent record includes "no" votes on the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) and a number of bilateral free trade agreements.

FORBES: Christopher Dodd