America is in the middle of the electoral process, many states have already voted, some are still being counted. Of course, we will also accompany you today with our US newsletter “Twenty / Twenty”. Juliane Schäuble describes a grueling night and looks at the election day happening at the White House. Click here for the free subscription.
Here it is, this day we have all waited so long for. Or better tonight. What we feared it would be a long, nerve-wracking tremor: It turned out that way. I admire everyone who can analyze cool and relaxed and watch how the American election card is gradually divided into red and blue spots, how numbers, percentages, forecasts change, without a feeling of certainty in which direction it is really going goes. My nervousness has now reached a level that, as my colleague Malte Lehming recently put it, is reminiscent of the oral examination.
And unfortunately no glass of white wine should help relieve my tension. As I write this – before midnight East Coast Time – the only safe thing to say is that Joe Biden failed to win by an overwhelming majority. Donald Trump’s four years of chaos apparently did not result in America agreeing to expel him from the White House. His supporters are not the majority, but they are determined to get him a second term. The expected record turnout goes back not only to anti-Trump Democrats, but also to Republicans who want to prevent a Biden government from turning around.
Biden now has a few fewer options
It is also certain that Biden now has a few fewer options to make this choice for himself. Florida and Texas are apparently no longer part of it, but as much as many dreamed it would have been more of the free choice and not the duty for the Democrats. So all eyes are on the Rust Belt and, as feared, especially excited about Pennsylvania. This swing state will probably give us a headache in the coming days, because a result is not expected here for the time being.
A first ray of hope for Biden has just come: According to Fox News, he has actually made the long-awaited “blue turn” possible in what is actually conservative Arizona. I was there a few weeks ago, you can find my report here. However, the Republican Party has just protested the Fox News decision. The fact remains: this night is far from over. My colleagues in Berlin, Anna Sauerbrey in Philadelphia, and I here in DC will do everything we can to accurately reproduce the counting thriller – and analyze what it means. You can follow the current status here in our live blog.
You can find our current election reports here
However, one fear has not yet arisen: it has remained largely quiet that night. Numerous people have gathered near the White House throughout the day, but the atmosphere in the area in front of the cordoned-off Lafayette Park, now known as “Black Lives Matter Plaza”, was more reminiscent of a happening with blue skies and late summer temperatures: women danced , self-appointed preachers admonished to follow Jesus, others protested peacefully against the president. Towards evening the first demonstrators armed for clashes were seen, but so far there have been no major incidents. I very much hope it stays that way. But I’m not sure about that either.
It is also unclear what the President will do in the White House that night. Will he report to the nation in a speech when the race can still go one way or the other? Will he again stir up doubts about the postal votes, many of which are still to be counted? Elections should be the high office of democracy. But on this endless night everything is reminiscent of torture. Only those who can wait patiently are blessed today. I hope you are one of them.
