By Cherri Gregg

LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, Pa (CBS) — Montgomery County had a strong turnout on Election Day.

Ten years ago, Montgomery County was considered a Republican stronghold, but on Tuesday it was the Democrats who had the advantage across the county.

“We’re running about 2.5 to 3-to-1 Republican,” says Jeff Rudnick, the Committee person for the 1st Ward, 2nd Precinct at Penn Valley Elementary.

Rudnick says Montgomery County Democrats only have a 40,000 voter advantage. With the county having nearly 600,000 voters, the winner depends on voter turnout, said Bonnie Squires, who spent the day watching the polls at Lower Merion High School.

“More than 70 percent of our registered voters have already voted,” she says, “and we still have an hour until the polls close.”

Many voters in the county kept who they voted for pretty close to the vest — but not Squires.

“I’m very optimistic that Obama will be re-elected,” she says.

In 2008, 60% of the vote went to President Obama.