Bookie ends bet on presidential election

DUBLIN, Ireland, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- An Irish betting company called Paddy Power is already paying out to gamblers who bet on President Barack Obama to win the U.S. election.

Despite polls showing Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney virtually tied, Paddy Power is paying out a total of more than $800,000 to those who bet on Obama, believing that he will win the race, the company said in a release.

A Paddy Power spokesperson said: "Romney gave it a good shot and is doing well in the popular vote, but we suspect he's had his moment in the sun and is likely to be remembered more for his legendary gaffes than presidential potential. The overall betting trend has shown one way traffic for Obama and punters seemed to have called it 100 percent correct. Despite Romney appealing to the large evangelical and senior vote, America's sticking with black and cool."