With less than 24 hours for the US Presidential elections, Democrat Barack Obama has announced that his grandmother has died.

Obama announced that his grandmother, 86 year old Madelyn Dunham, had died peacefully after a battle with cancer.

He said she was the cornerstone of their family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength and humility.

Obama said she was the person who encouraged and allowed them to take chances.

The candidate learned of her death earlier today while he was campaigning in Jacksonville however he planned to go ahead with campaign appearances.

According to the BBC, Obama is still focused and the world will soon see whether the polls which have put him ahead are correct.