About 6,000 polling stations opened at 7:00 am (0500GMT). More than four million eligible voters have until 10:00 pm (2000GMT) to cast their ballots with results expected during the night.

Incumbent Ivan Gasparovic, 68, a lawyer and experienced politician, won the first round election two weeks ago with 46.7 percent of the vote -- well ahead of his female rival Iveta Radicova, 52, who scored 38 percent.

"I chose the female candidate because I trust her," said 76-year-old pensioner Anita in the centre of the capital Bratislava.

"I voted for Slovakia, I don't want any Obama here," said another pensioner, who refused to give her name, referring to Radicova's campaign slogan "Yes, we can," borrowed from US President Barack Obama.

...In the last few days, the campaign has centered around nationalist issues, as the country is home to two large minorities, Romas in the east, and Hungarians in the south. Radicova won several southern regions inhabited mostly by the Hungarian minority who make up 10 percent of the population.

(That's an understatement... the hate'nationalist' campaign was ugly. Even in both television debates, the main sparring was about autonomy and Beneš decrets and Radičová's support from the Hungarian minority party.)
 

_{*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.}