Harris closing in on Trump, swing states to determine victor
3 Min Read
Former US President Donald Trump's momentum is slowing amid fierce battles in key swing states as Harris closes the gap between the two.
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Supporters watch as results come in at an election night campaign watch party for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris, Tuesday, November 5, 2024, on the campus of Howard University in Washington (AP)
The US presidential election came out of a heated round to a more tranquil one with very little momentum as fierce battles take place in the background, most notable in key swing states that will determine the course of the country, the likes of Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
As results were slowing down, Vice President Kamala Harris pulled through and narrowed the massive gap between herself and the former US president, who had been leading all night until the votes of the West Coast started being tallied.
Although the results are favoring Trump so far, the West Coast and the Northeast are known to be Democrat strongholds, and the voting is yet to conclude there with the race being too close to count thus far in areas where polls have already closed.
Trump has won the states of Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and Idaho.
He is currently leading in the key swing states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, as well as Arizona, and Wisconsin.
Harris, meanwhile, made key advances, winning the states of Vermont, Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Colorado, New Mexico, New York, California, Oregon, Washington, and Hawaii.
She has the lead in Maine, New Hampshire, and Minnesota.
In total, according to projections by The Associated Press, Trump is in the lead with 230 electoral college votes, while Harris is lagging behind at 209 votes. The Republican has a little over 51% of the popular vote, while the Democrat is dragging behind him at 47.5%.
Booming Trump economy?
Amid news that former President Trump could potentially win the US election, the US dollar surged and the bitcoin reached a record high on Wednesday. Early projections showed the Republican candidate outperforming his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, stirring investor sentiment in favor of Trump's economic policies.
Both Trump and Harris claimed anticipated wins in traditional strongholds, but early indicators suggested Trump was gaining momentum in pivotal swing states, igniting a market response often dubbed the "Trump Trade." Investors have speculated that a win for the former president would bring sweeping tax cuts, new tariffs, and deregulation measures, fueling a boost for the US dollar.
In currency markets, the dollar jumped 1.5% to 154.33 yen, marking its highest level since July. The greenback also saw gains of more than 1% against the euro and over 2% against the Mexican peso.
Bitcoin surged to an all-time high of $75,005.06, surpassing its previous record of $73,797.98 set in March. Throughout his campaign, Trump promised to position the US as the "world capital of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies."
