The Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, captured the first major battleground state, North Carolina, on Tuesday, giving his campaign an early advantage and narrowing Vice President Kamala Harris’s path to the White House in a suspense-filled U.S. presidential election.
With North Carolina secured, Trump gained momentum in the race. Harris, meanwhile, was underperforming in key regions, intensifying the pressure on her campaign to secure the critical “Blue Wall” states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
Her campaign director, Jen O’Malley Dillon, reassured staff in an internal memo, stating they “feel good” about their standing in these pivotal states.
According to AFP, Dillion said, “we feel good about what we’re seeing”
Trump’s camp, in their reaction, reported a positive outlook, particularly from their base in Florida, where campaign spokesperson Jason Miller noted a buoyant mood.
The election results also sent waves through financial markets, with the U.S. dollar surging and bitcoin hitting record highs as traders leaned towards a Trump victory.
Stock markets reacted favourably as the outcome continued to unfold, reflecting the mounting expectations of a Trump-led administration.
In the early tallies, Trump clinched solid Republican states such as Florida and Texas, pushing him to 227 electoral votes. At the same time, Harris won the Democratic stronghold of California, bringing her total to 172.
With the presidential threshold set at 270 electoral votes, both candidates are strategically focused on capturing the remaining swing states.
Results are still awaited from additional battleground states, though Trump is reportedly leading in Georgia, adding to his campaign’s optimism.
In a simultaneous battle for the Senate, Republicans managed to flip two seats, delivering a substantial blow to Democrats, who are fighting to maintain their influence in the chamber.