2024-11-06 00:20:00
In the US presidential election, the two opponents Kamala Harris and Donald Trump were able to secure first votes. US media reported on Wednesday night that Vermont went to Harris and Kentucky and Indiana went to Trump. The announcement came immediately after polls closed in the three states. Vermont is considered a Democratic stronghold, the other two states are traditionally Republican.
Trump took the lead with 19 to 3 electoral votes. A victory requires 270 votes in the electoral college. The US President is not elected directly, but by a total of 538 voters. These are determined in the 50 states and the capital district, with the regional election winner receiving all electors, with the exception of the states of Maine and Nebraska. According to polls, the race was only open in the seven swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. Four years ago, Democrat Joe Biden won each of these states.
Partial results from Kentucky and Indiana showed largely the same balance of power as in the duel between Trump and his then Democratic opponent Biden four years ago. However, Harris appeared to do better than Biden in some urban centers in the two deep red states.
Polls had suggested a neck-and-neck race between the two candidates. A post-election survey by the Edison Research Institute showed advantages for Harris. At 53 percent, she showed a clearer majority of women in the electorate than four years ago (52 percent), which spoke in favor of the Democrat. 48 percent have a positive opinion of Harris, 44 percent have a positive opinion of Trump. For 35 percent of voters, democracy was the most important issue when casting their ballots, followed by the economy at 31, abortion at 14, immigration at 11 and foreign policy at four percent.
Detailed results from the swing states showed that Harris had higher popularity ratings than Trump in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin. Only in Nevada and Arizona was it the other way around.
Many voters cast their votes before election day. According to the “Election Lab” at the University of Florida, around 83 million US citizens voted by mail or at polling stations that were open beforehand. This corresponds to more than half of the total votes cast in the presidential election in 2020.
Trump voted in Palm Beach, Florida, near his home. “I’m very confident. We went in with a very big lead,” he told reporters. The outcome of the election will be anything but close, he predicted. Trump came to the polling station with his wife Melania. He explained that if he were to lose the election, he would recognize it on the condition that the election was fair: “If I lose an election, if it is a fair election, I would be the first to recognize that.” But a short time later he sowed doubts about the election process on social media after there were problems with voting machines in the metropolis of Philadelphia. “There is a lot of talk about massive FRAUD in Philadelphia. Law enforcement is coming!!!” he wrote on Truth Social.
Vice President Harris spent part of Election Day at her residence in the US capital Washington. The 60-year-old told radio station KDKA that she wanted to have dinner at home with her family and later go to a democratic election party at her former university. “I will be at my alma mater, Howard University,” Harris said.
There is a lot at stake in the election: the domestic political stability of the USA as well as the already shaky balance of world politics. The Democrat Harris could become the first woman to lead the United States. Trump could move back into the White House after being voted out four years ago. In terms of content, Biden’s 60-year-old vice president stands for continuity and a stable foreign policy for the world power. The ex-president, on the other hand, is proud of his unpredictable and aggressive course.
The outcome of the election was awaited not only with excitement, but also with concern about possible riots. Security precautions were ramped up across the country – but initially there were only isolated incidents.
In the meantime, bomb threats disrupted voting, including in the particularly competitive “swing state” of Georgia. The US Federal Police FBI saw a lead to Russia: “The FBI is aware of bomb threats against polling stations in several states, many of which appear to come from Russian email domains. So far, none of the threats have been classified as credible,” it said in a message. US intelligence agencies warned on Monday that Russia could try to influence the vote, as it had done in previous days. The FBI also warned of manipulated videos that allegedly came from the US Federal Police. One talks about the threat of terrorism at polling stations and asks Americans to vote by postal vote. Another video is about alleged election fraud by inmates of five prisons, it said. Both videos are not authentic, the authority said.
At the US Capitol Visitors Center in Washington, police arrested a man who smelled of gasoline and was carrying a flare gun. The Capitol Police announced this on the X platform. The man was noticed during the security check. There will no longer be any tours in the visitor center during the investigation. The Capitol in the US capital is the seat of Congress, i.e. the two chambers of the US Parliament. The House of Representatives and the Senate are located there.
Many Americans fear violent incidents surrounding the election. Trump replied to a question that he did not expect his supporters to riot. “Of course there will be no violence,” he said. He doesn’t have to tell his supporters that explicitly. “My supporters are not violent people,” said the 78-year-old. He himself doesn’t want violence either. In recent weeks, Trump has repeatedly sowed doubts about the integrity of the election and spoken of alleged fraud by the Democrats.
Trump never admitted his 2020 election defeat. On January 6, 2021, he instead incited his supporters with unsubstantiated claims that his election victory had been stolen from him through massive fraud. A violent mob then stormed the Capitol, where Democrat Joe Biden’s victory was to be formally confirmed. As a result of the riots, five people died.
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**Interview with Dr. Emily Johnson, Political Analyst and Author**
**Interviewer:** Good evening, Dr. Johnson. Thank you for joining us tonight to discuss the unfolding events of the 2024 U.S. presidential election. What are your initial thoughts on the results we’ve seen so far from states like Vermont, Kentucky, and Indiana?
**Dr. Johnson:** Thank you for having me. It’s clear that we’re seeing early indications of a divided electorate. Vermont’s results align with its historical voting patterns as a Democratic stronghold, while Kentucky and Indiana reaffirm their Republican leanings. What’s particularly interesting is the dynamics within these states, especially regarding how Kamala Harris is performing in urban areas, which may indicate shifting attitudes among voters.
**Interviewer:** Indeed, Trump currently leads with 19 electoral votes compared to Harris’s 3. With 270 needed to win, how critical are the swing states in this election?
**Dr. Johnson:** The swing states are crucial. They have the potential to tip the balance of the electoral college. Currently, polls suggest a competitive race in key states like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. As we saw four years ago, these states can dramatically affect the outcome, making them the focal point of both campaigns’ strategies.
**Interviewer:** Recent polls showed Harris with a slight edge among women voters and higher favorability ratings in several swing states compared to Trump. How might this affect the campaign moving forward?
**Dr. Johnson:** The demographic trends suggest that Harris could be gaining traction, especially among women, who are becoming an increasingly vital voter bloc. This shift could motivate her campaign to focus heavily on issues that resonate with these voters, such as reproductive rights and democracy, which, according to recent surveys, are top concerns.
**Interviewer:** Speaking of concerns, there have been reports of voting machine issues in Philadelphia and bomb threats at polling stations, with links to potential foreign interference. How might these events complicate the election proceedings?
**Dr. Johnson:** Yes, these incidents raise serious concerns about electoral integrity and security. While the FBI has stated that many threats do not appear credible, they add a layer of tension to an already polarized environment. Any perception of irregularities could fuel divisive narratives from either side, potentially escalating tensions and affecting voter confidence.
**Interviewer:** with both candidates having a lot at stake—the prospect of Harris being the first female president versus Trump’s potential return—what do you foresee as the biggest takeaway from this election?
**Dr. Johnson:** This election embodies a critical moment in U.S. history. It reflects the broader divisions within society, not only along political lines but also regarding issues like race and gender. Regardless of the outcome, the results will undoubtedly shape the future political landscape and influence how Americans engage in democracy moving forward.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Johnson, for sharing your insights. We’ll be watching closely as the results continue to unfold.
**Dr. Johnson:** Thank you for having me. It’s certainly an exciting and consequential time for the nation.
