The prospect of the country electing either its first woman president or its first African-American leader has galvanised Democrats from the sun-soaked shores of southern Florida to the snowy streets of northern Michigan.

Even on the Republican side turnout is well up in those primaries so far staged when usually just the party faithful vote, promising record numbers may take part in next week's Super Tuesday.

It may even be that all historical records could be smashed when the country as a whole turns out for the November presidential elections to replace President George W. Bush, at the end of his two terms in office.

'In both parties we are seeing a real competition, a proper contest,' said Mr Chris Dreibelbis, from the non-profit organisation the Reform Institute.

'In years past, in both parties the person who was perceived as the anointed front-runner has almost always been seen as a done deal. Here we have a much more open race, and the competition is drawing more people to the polls.'

Historically, the United States has been known for its voter apathy, but participation has been steadily rising in the past decade.

It reached its highest percentage level since 1968 in the last presidential elections in 2004 when 120 million Americans voted, nearly 60 per cent of the eligible electorate.

That is still on the low side though when compared to other countries. Some 85.3 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots in France's presidential elections last year, for example.

But across the US there is a sense that change is in the air, after eight years of Mr Bush, whose popularity has sunk to some of the lowest levels of any US president amid anger over the Iraq war and the sputtering economy.

'Discontent with the country, that is why voter participation is so high, particularly on the Democratic side,' said Mr Andrew Kohut, president of the Pew Research Center.

'American voter participation is tied very much to discontent. When people are unhappy with their living conditions, they turn out.'

Young Illinois Senator Barack Obama is drawing young people and first time voters in their droves as he bids to be the country's first black president, while his Democratic rival former first lady Hillary Clinton is winning the backing of older, more experienced women voters.

And the figures are astonishing. In South Carolina about 532,000 people cast ballots in the state's Democratic primaries, compared to 300,000 last time round in 2004, with about 446,000 voters turning out on the Republican side.

The results in the traditionally conservative state which leans towards the Republicans have caused a ripple among Democrats, with some believing it could be up for grabs in November for the first time in more than three decades.

Early states New Hampshire and Iowa also set records at the beginning of January. In Florida, where the primaries were almost pointless since the state has been stripped of its delegates to the party convention, 1.7 million people voted on the Democratic side.

'It is so close, that the voters think their vote matters so they are turning out,' said Professor Eric Davis of Middlebury College. 'And I think there's a real desire on the Democratic side to get rid of the Republicans.'

Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama are now locked in a straight two-horse race for the Democratic Party nomination after Mr John Edwards pulled out on Wednesday.

On the Republican side, Arizona Senator John McCain seems to be well ahead of his nearest rival former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney as the two parties brace for Super Tuesday when some two dozen primaries will be held.

Whether the record primary turnouts will be repeated in the actual November elections, remains to be seen and will depend on a variety of factors including who wins the nominations, analysts say.

'If Obama is the Democratic candidate, then I think turnout will be very high,' said Prof Davis, predicting it could reach some 60 per cent or more.

'But if it's Clinton, then that could energise the Republicans to prevent her winning, although the Democrats might not be as enthusiastic.'

Mr Kohut agreed, saying: 'Clinton gets the Republicans edgy. There is an emotional response to her that's been observed among Republicans.' -- AFP