From polls to poultry: Barack Obama reprieves Thanksgiving turkey for last time as President

Barack Obama has taken part in the traditional pardoning of the national Thanksgiving turkey for the last time as president.

Mr Obama's nephews stood in for daughters Malia and Sasha for the light-hearted ceremony in the White House's Rose Garden, which featured Iowa-raised turkeys Tater and Tot, with the latter receiving the formal reprieve.

He said he has used the past pardoning ceremonies to embarrass his daughters with a cornucopia of bad jokes about turkeys.

"This year, they had a scheduling conflict. Actually, they just couldn't take my jokes any more," the president said.

Mr Obama joked that his nephews, Austin and Aaron Robinson, had not yet been turned cynical by Washington.

"They still believe in bad puns. They still believe in the grandeur of this occasion," Mr Obama said. "They still have hope."

The White House asked people on Twitter to vote for which turkey will receive the pardon, though both will get a reprieve.

The White House even provided a biography for each bird to help voters with their decision. It revealed that Tater's favourite snack is worms, while Tot prefers tomato slices. Each 18-week-old bird weighed in at about 40lb.

The White House said that both birds will be sent to their new home at Virginia Tech's Gobblers Rest, where they will be cared for by veterinarians and students.

The ceremony also gave Mr Obama a chance to reflect on the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Mr Obama said it is a time to remember that "we have a lot more in common than divides us".

He also challenged Americans to show the world that the United States is a generous and giving country, and to make sure everyone has something to eat on Thanksgiving.

The National Turkey Federation began bringing live turkeys to the White House when President Harry S. Truman was in office.

The White House Historical Association said Truman remarked they would "come in handy" for Christmas dinner.

President John Kennedy spared the turkey presented to him in 1963, saying "let's keep him going".

President George H.W. Bush is credited with beginning the formal pardon tradition back in 1989, saying that year's bird was "granted a presidential pardon as of right now".