obamas grandmother died today

Democratic candidate Barack Obama's grandmother has died of cancer, less than a day out from the US presidential election and little more than a week after he interrupted the White House race to say goodbye to her in Hawaii.

Senator Obama released a joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng to announce the death this morning.

"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer," he said.

"She was the cornerstone of our family and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility."

Ms Dunham helped raise Senator Obama from the age of 10 while his mother was working in Indonesia.

Senator Obama took an emotional 22-hour trip to Hawaii to visit her late last month.

"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances," Senator Obama said this morning.

"She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."

Ms Dunham, who he affectionately knew as 'Toot', helped raise Senator Obama, who barely knew his Kenyan-born father.

She was the last surviving close older relative, after his mother died from cancer over a decade ago.

- Reuters/AFP

Dave R.