Bush votes, prepares to wait for results

CRAWFORD, Texas, Nov 7 (Reuters) President George W Bush urged Americans to vote as he cast his ballot today in US elections expected to stiffen Democratic opposition in Congress for his last two years in office.

The voting was largely considered a referendum on Bush's Iraq war policy and he spent weeks on the campaign trail defending the war and arguing the United States must stay there to fight.

Bush and his wife Laura, having spent the night at their ranch in central Texas, voted in polling booths set up inside the Crawford fire department building under tight security in this tiny town.

Bush joked as he went inside that he had ''pretty much made up my mind'' how he was going to vote. When he came out, he made a statement urging all Americans to vote no matter which side they support.

''We live in a free society and our government is only as good as the willingness of our people to participate. Therefore no matter what your affiliation or if you don't have a party affiliation, do your duty, cast your ballot and let your voice be heard,'' Bush told reporters.

He was to return to Washington later to wait for results, which polls said could give Democrats enough seats to take control of the US House of Representatives and possibly the Senate.

In Bush's home district, incumbent Rep Chet Edwards, a Democrat, was facing Republican Van Taylor. Bush had endorsed Taylor.

Vice President Dick Cheney, having already voted in his home state of Wyoming, was awaiting election results in South Dakota, where he was on his first hunting trip since accidentally shooting a friend early this year.

Bush yesterday night in Dallas ended a swing through Republican areas of 10 states trying to whip up a big turnout from the party's base.

''Stick with us and the country will be better off,'' Bush told thousands of foot-stomping, cheering Republican faithful at a sports arena in Dallas.

The fact that he spent the last five days of the campaign in areas generally friendly to Republicans spoke volumes about the direction of the electorate during these elections as he focused more on turning out the Republican base than trying to persuade swing voters.

REUTERS PB ND1956