(by Ameli Berksman)

U.S. crude oil climbed back to $51 per barrel as George W. Bush leads the election.

December crude oil added 3.2%, or $1.58, to $51.20 per barrel trading at $50.80 per barrel at 2:56 p.m. Singapore time on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude oil for December delivery lifted 1.45, or 65 cents, to $47.20 per barrel on the International Petroleum Exchange in London at 2:02 p.m.

Oil prices are expected to rise if Bush is re-elected as U.S. President. ``A Bush victory would be favorable for prices,’’ said Dariusz Kowalczyk, senior investment strategist at CFC Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong.

"A Bush administration continued in its present form would have a Department of Energy that is extremely fossil fuel-centric and, because of the focus on fossil fuels, we would expect prices to rise," said economist Jason Schenker at Wachovia Securities.