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By Alec Hogg
Donald Trump has claimed victory in the 2024 US Presidential Election after the key “toss up” State of Pennsylvania was called for him.
Here’s how Adam Roberts, digital editor for our partners at The Economist ___STEADY_PAYWALL___reported the news: “Wow. Some comeback stories are the stuff of political legend. Donald Trump, a convicted felon who sought to subvert the 2020 presidential election, is poised to return to the White House. He will be the oldest man ever to be elected president in America.
“After Pennsylvania was called in his favour, at about 2am Eastern time (9am SA time) on November 6th, Mr Trump claimed victory. He is now all but certain to become America’s next president. Republicans will also control the Senate, and, quite possibly, the House of Representatives. Mr Trump may well even have won the popular vote, unlike in his first victory, in 2016.
“It appears that Latino men, especially, voted strongly for the Republican, while Kamala Harris failed to persuade women and minority voters, crucial to her chances of victory, to turn out. In his victory speech Mr Trump boasted of building the “greatest political movement of all time”, and promised to “heal” America. After a feisty and often bitter campaign, that seems unlikely.”
Trump’s victory in Pennsylvania, together with his wins in Georgia and North Carolina, two of the other important swing States, gives Trump the 270 Electoral College votes (see our table below) needed to triumph in the election.
Of the 50 States, 32 were regarded as “safe” for one of the candidates and 11 classified as “likely” for one of them. There have been no surprises in these 43 States.
That meant the Election boiled down to who won the seven States regarded as “toss ups” ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
Pollsters had Kamala Harris more likely to win Michigan and Wisconsin, but she has failed to land those two states. Apart from that, with Pennsylvania, Georgia and North Carolina having been called for Trump, the former President has now secured the votes needed, making academic results from the two final swing States (Arizona, Nevada).
The seven “toss up” States controlled 94 votes – or just 17.5% of the total.
Heading into the election, after allocating the votes in the 43 “safe” and “likely” States, Kamala Harris had a probable 225 Electoral College votes against Donald Trump’s 220 – meaning of those 94 votes Harris required 45 and Trump 50 to win.
Trump looks set to win all of those votes having either won or running ahead in all seven of these critical States. As reported on BizNews earlier in the week, Trump only needed to win Pennsylvania (19); North Carolina (15); and Georgia (16), which he has done.
The critical State was Pennsylvania. Associated Press, the most accurate of the projectors, has called Pennsylvania for Donald Trump by 50.8% to 48.2% – a far more comfortable victory than the 0.1% gap (for Trump) predicted by pollsters ahead of the election. Click on the image below for the latest.
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