In a speech from the White House on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he was getting ready for big celebrations on the back of “phenomenal results”. He announced that he has clearly won North Carolina, a battleground state in which, current numbers show, he is in a neck-and-neck contest with Democratic challenger Joe Biden. He said he has won the key states of Pennsylvania—where a lot of counting is still to be done—and Georgia. “I am winning by record numbers. Biden can't catch me,” he said.
I will be making a statement tonight. A big WIN!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2020
His address comes immediately on the back of Biden's speech on Wednesday noon, saying that he feels good about the election results. "I feel optimistic. We are on track to win, and we will wait for all votes to be counted." Minutes after Biden's statement, Trump tweeted in response that he has "won big". He also claimed there were attempts to "steal the election from him", a statement which Twitter censored.
His claims, and the conflicting Biden arguments, raise the spectre of a possible legal dispute between the two parties. If the leads are narrow by the end, either party could challenge the election. Trump had already hinted at litigation.
The next occupant to the White House needs to win 270 of the 538 electoral college votes. Early projections had shown Biden and Trump neck-and-neck in key battleground states, with the battle to be decided in the states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Biden has multiple paths to victory, while Trump has very little room to maneuver. But, belying all exit polling, the results hinged closer than expected.
President Trump, who is seeking his re-election for the second consecutive term, had tweeted expressed confidence on the results. "WE ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THANK YOU!" Trump tweeted. He was watching the election results from the White House. He has invited some 250 select guests for an event in the East room of the White House.
According to experts, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania hold key to the election results. Trump needs to win all three of them, while Biden can earn the presidency with win in any one of these states.
