An Irish bookie says he and his colleagues are paying out early on bets for a Barack Obama victory in the U.S. presidential race.

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Bookmaker Paddy Power said the Democrat's odds of beating Republican John McCain in the race to become the 44th U.S. president were a dismal 1-9 prior to Wednesday night's third and final debate between the candidates, but Obama is now seen as the inevitable victor when Nov. 4 rolls around, the Glasgow (Scotland) Daily Record reported Friday.

"We declare this race well and truly over," Power said Thursday. "Although the senator seemed a little off sorts... we believe he has done more than enough to get him across the line," he said of Obama's performance in Wednesday's debate.