- America starts to vote in the most divisive election in history
- Donald Trump says "it's been an amazing experience"
- Village of Dixville Notch becomes first to declare
- Hillary Clinton up three points in final polls
- How does the US presidential election work?
- Polls and odds tracker
Polls have opened across the east coast of the United States, as millions of Americans choose between Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, or a third party outsider.
As voting began in the early hours of Tuesday morning in New Hampshire, Mrs Clinton's lead solidified, with the RCP poll average showing the Democrat nominee up three points.
She voted alongside her husband, and described it as "humbling."
"It is the most humbling feeling because I know how much responsibility goes with this and so many people are counting on the outcome of this election," she said. "I know how much responsibility is on it, what it means for this country and I'll do the very best that I can if I'm fortunate enough to win today."
But Mr Trump told Fox News on Tuesday morning that he was still hopeful of sweeping states including Florida and Ohio.
“It’s been an amazing process, about 17 or 18 months since I came up with it... it’s been a beautiful process, the people of this country are incredible, I’ve met the people at every level and they are amazing," he said.
"People say what have you learned? That’s what I’ve learned: the people are amazing.
“I see so many hopes and so many dreams that didn’t happen that could have happened with proper leadership.”
Mr Trump is described by Politico as "hoping for a miracle". But the race is certainly not a forgone conclusion, and he remains optimistic.
The village of Dixville Notch, which has just eight voters, became the first in the nation to declare. Shortly after midnight local time, Mrs Clinton won the village with four votes. Donald Trump received two votes, with another going to Gary Johnson, the Libertarian. One voter chose to forgo the candidates on offer and cast a vote for Mitt Romney, the 2012 GOP candidate.
The final, frenzied hours of campaigning on Monday saw stars galore and mad dashes to key swing states - including, notably, Michigan, which Democrats have conceded they might lose.
"Hopefully it's relatively calm. Hopefully it doesn't blow up. But this hasn't been a regular election year," said Wendy Weiser, head of the democracy program at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU's Law School.
"Mannequin Challenge" by Hillary Clinton and Jon Bon Jovi...
Hillary Clinton last night enlisted Jon Bon Jovi to take part in "the mannequin challenge," which our online trend reporter Helena Horton informs us is apparently a crazy sweeping the web.
It involves... people standing still.
You can read more here.
Voter intimidation?
Donald Trump used a rally to encourage his supporters to "watch" people as they vote.
He's also described the system as "rigged" and said the vote was being "stolen."
Most people believe this is nonsense, and widespread voter fraud is all but impossible.
However, America is on alert for any sign of fraud or intimidation, with a hotline set up to report issues.
Voter intimidation by Maine governor?
Paul LePage, the controversial governor of Maine, is being accused of intimidating college students by saying those who vote in Tuesday’s election will be investigated to make sure they follow state law.
Mr LePage, a Republican, said that after the election, "we will do everything" allowed under state and federal law to verify college students who voted are following Maine law.
His office didn't respond to Fox News's request for comment and provided no further details about what that means.
Zachary Heiden, legal director at the ACLU of Maine, called on the Department of Justice to investigate the intent behind Mr LePage's statement.
He said Mr LePage's words appear "designed to make college students afraid to vote.
“College students who live in Maine have the right to vote in Maine, and they are not subject to different laws than anyone else. Many of these young people are voting for the first time in a presidential election. The governor should be encouraging that civic participation, not doing everything in his power to undermine it.”
#Pantsuitnation - Women don trouser suits as they vote for Hillary Clinton
Our online reporter, Helena Horton, writes:
Hillary Clinton has become known for her love of chic "pantsuits" - trouser suits - so women across the US are donning suit jackets with matching trousers as they cast their vote for the Democrat.
There are many examples on Twitter, with most using the hashtag #pantsuitnation.
Mrs Clinton would probably be proud of this tribute, as in her Twitter biography she calls herself a "pantsuit aficionado" and is rarely seen wearing anything else.
Here are a few of the best examples from the #PantsuitNation hashtag.
My pantsuit! 12 minutes, in line!!!! #ImWithHer
In other (good) news! I found my pantsuit! In my closet!#pantsuitnation
In honor of today, wearing my grandmother's pearls and a pantsuit. #ImWithHer #pantsuitnation
Topless protest at Trump's polling station
Two women have been arrested, it seems, after staging a topless protest at the polling station where Donald Trump is due to cast his vote.
Protest inside polling station where Trump votes. Two women arrested. #Election2016 #vote
More footage of the topless protest against Trump at my polling station. Two women arrested. #Election2016
"What's Zealand?" - Confused Trump supporter responds to New Zealand journalist
Our online news reporter, Helena Horton, writes:
Footage of a Trump supporter seemingly not knowing what New Zealand is has emerged online.
New Zealand journalist Patrick Gower was confronted by an angry Donald Trump supporter at a rally last week in Florida.
As Mr Gower tried to ask some questions to and film the crowd, one supporter angrily said: "I'm not talking to the Clinton media! You guys are a sell-out!"
The journalist explained: "I'm from New Zealand though, I'm not part of the Clinton media."
The Trump supporter replied: "What's Zealand? You're not part of the Clinton network are you? You're not part of the lying media are you?"
As the journalist tried to explain there is no such thing as a "Clinton network" and that he is from New Zealand the country, the Trump supporter called him “disgusting”, saying: “You sell out your own profession… Your children’s food, you sell it out!”
“He was literally frothing at the mouth, taken aback,” Mr Gower told BuzzFeed News. “One person was trying to say, y’know: ‘New Zealand is a country’, but it didn’t help.
"And then another guy popped up and was saying: ‘We are the media now’.
"He was saying: ‘You’re on Facebook Live! We are our own media! We don’t need you.”
Donald Trump speaks to Fox News
“I’ve decided to vote for Trump,” jokes Donald Trump on Fox News’ Fox and Friends this morning.
“It’s very exciting. I’ve spoken to you folks for a lot during very successful primaries... I’m a little bit superstitious so when you said please call, I called,” he said.
They asked if he’d changed during the campaign.
“It’s been an amazing process, about 17 or 18 months since I came up with it... it’s been a beautiful process, the people of this country are incredible, I’ve met the people at every level and they are amazing.
"People say what have you learned? That’s what I’ve learned: the people are amazing.“I see so many hopes and so many dreams that didn’t happen that could have happened with proper leadership.“People are hurting, veterans are hurting… they’ve been hurt so badly, being taken care of so badly.“It’s very sad. At the same time, our country has such tremendous potential.“I’m doing very well in North Carolina, very very well in Florida.”Both of those states are critical for Trump to win the presidency.“We’re doing very well in New Hampshire, Ohio is incredible, just a great place. We’re going to win Iowa. We’ve had such great experience there. We’re going to win Iowa, Ohio, New Hampshire. Who knows what happens ultimately, but we’re going to win a lot of states."
He also mentioned Michigan and Wisconsin as possible states (both have large groups of working-class white voters), that he could win.
“Car production has been ripped out of that state and gone to Mexico, I think we’re going to really do well in Michigan. We’re getting very good reports out of Wisconsin.“In the case of Jay Z, the language he used was terrible. The language was unbelievable that Jay Z and Beyonce used, a lot of people left because of the language."
Buzzfeed reported yesterday that there was no indication people left because they were upset.
Asked if Trump would regret running if he doesn’t win, he says that others have told him he’s started a political movement and that he should be proud of that.
However he adds
“I will consider it a waste of time, energy and money,” he says, saying that he’s spent over $100 million of his own money on the campaign.
However, latest election filings show he has spent $66 million.
“I will not consider it great if I don’t win,” adds Trump.
Fox News asked for his final message to voters. Trump replied:
We have a great, great country, we have tremendous potential. Go out, and vote.
Early-risers begin voting for their new president
After an exhausting, wild, bitter, and sometimes sordid campaign, Americans in New York and Ohio finally began voting on Tuesday for a new president: either the billionaire populist Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton, seeking to become the first woman to win the White House.
Early-rising voters in nine states mainly along the East Coast got first crack at a pivotal election that has a nervous world watching closely after a campaign like no other.
This timelapse captures the number of voters who cast their ballots in just half an hour this morning.
Hillary Clinton greets fans in New York state
Hillary Clinton has just spoken to reporters outside the polling station in Chappaqua.
She said she was aware of the responsibility she was assuming.
"It is the most humbling feeling because I know how much responsibility goes with this and so many people are counting on the outcome of this election."I know how much responsibility is on it, what it means for this country and I'll do the very best that I can if I'm fortunate enough to win today."
Bill Clinton looked far more jovial, enjoying the moment and joking at the many years he had been through the same process.
Donald Trump Jr on what this election means
Donald Trump Jr is speaking on CNN now.
He doesn't need this job. He did this for America, for the American dream, for our kids and grandkids.Both sides of the political elite have failed us. They beat their chests loudly and fail.What we want is real change.We've seen this with Bernie Sanders - and he was cheated out by the system.The media isn't fair and balanced; the conservative media isn't either, I know. But we need true freedom of thought.
He is asked about his father.
I wish people saw the employer. They saw the father and grandfather. At the dinner table. Who has employed tens of thousands of people.That's the Donald Trump that America is starting to see and know.I think we want someone out of the system - who can really deliver.It's false promise after false promise, and that's what he's rallying against.
On rumours that Mr Trump may start "Trump TV," he says he has "no idea" and "hasn't been home in three months."
And he played down suggestions that he would take an active role in government.
He's a really good employer. He's good at finding people who would be better than we would.And he can bring in people outside the political class.
Hillary Clinton arrives to vote
At 8am on the dot, local time, Hillary Clinton has arrived to vote in Chappaqua, New York.
Accompanied by her husband, she is hugged by a well-wisher as she enters the station.
Live Now: Hillary Clinton votes in Chappaqua, New Yorkwtkr.com/on-air/live-st… #News3politics
Which states are open?
- New Hampshire (Midnight - 8pm ET)
- Vermont (5am - 7pm ET)
- Connecticut (6am - 8pm ET)
- New Jersey (6am - 8pm ET)
- Indiana (6am - 7pm ET)
- Maine (6am - 8pm ET)
- Kentucky (6am - 7 pm ET)
- New York (6am - 9pm ET)
- Virginia (6am - 7pm ET)
- North Carolina (6.30am - 7.30pm ET)
- West Virginia (6.30am - 7.30pm ET )
- Ohio (6.30am - 7.30pm ET)
- Pennsylvania (7am - 8pm ET)
- South Carolina (7am - 7pm ET)
- Delaware (7am - 8pm ET)
- Florida (7am - 8pm ET)
- Georgia (7am - 7pm ET)
- Louisiana (7am - 9pm ET)
- Massachusetts (7am - 8pm ET)
- Illinois (7am - 8pm)
- Kansas (7am - 9pm)
- Michigan (7am - 9pm ET)
- Tennessee (7am - 8pm ET)
- Maryland (7am - 8pm ET )
- Missouri (7am - 8pm ET)
- Rhode Island (7am - 8pm ET)
Revealed: Bill Clinton says Jeremy Corbyn is 'the maddest person in the room' in private speech
Michael Wilkinson, our political correspondent, brings us this update from Westminster.
He writes:
Bill Clinton described Jeremy Corbyn as the "maddest person in the room" in a private speech revealed by Wikileaks.
The former US president, who could be returning to the White House as the husband of the next president, reportedly mocked the Labour leader in a private speech at a Hillary for America fundraiser in Maryland in October 2015. The speech, marked "for internal use only", was published in full by Wikileaks today.
Mr Clinton said:
"The British Labour Party disposed of its most (inaudible) leader, David Miliband, because they were mad at him for being part of Tony Blair’s government in the Iraq War."And they moved to the left and put his brother in as leader because the British labor movement wanted it. When David Cameron thumped him in the election, they reached the interesting conclusion that they lost because they hadn’t moved far left enough, and so they went out and practically got a guy off the street to be the leader of the British Labor Party, who I saw in the press today said that he was really a British citizen and had real British (inaudible). (Laughter.)"But what that is reflective of – the same thing happened in the Greek election – when people feel they’ve been shafted and they don’t expect anything to happen anyway, they just want the maddest person in the room to represent them."
Mr Clinton likened the Labour leader's position to that of Bernie Sanders, who failed in his bid to become the Democratic nominee, with the party instead opting for Mrs Clinton.
"Hillary says that you have to have a campaign that appeals to the struggling, the striving and the successful," Mr Clinton said.
"We have to do this together. And Bernie says just go get the money from the millionaires."
Democratic Party officials and US government agencies have accused the Russian government, including the country's "senior-most officials," of pursuing a campaign of cyber attacks against Democratic Party organisations ahead of the US presidential election.
WikiLeaks has been one of the most prominent internet outlets to post and promote hacked Democratic Party materials. The organisation has denied any connection with a Russian hacking campaign.
Tim Kaine has voted
Hillary Clinton's running mate, Tim Kaine, has voted in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia.
* Senator for Virginia, aged 58
* Fluent in Spanish, learnt while a young missionary in Honduras
* Worked as a lawyer in Virginia specialising in civil rights and housing
* Devout Catholic
* Plays the harmonica but describes himself as "boring"
"Hillary has a universe of star power - and Tim Kaine," wrote the USA Today, rather cruelly.
Last night he was on stage playing the harmonica with Jon Bon Jovi, though - so don't feel too sorry for him.
Watch out for Florida
So Florida has just opened its doors to voters.
And it's one to watch. Every major poll since October has shown the state pretty much tied.
Florida has 29 electoral college votes - the third most in the nation, after California (55) and Texas (38).
"If we win Florida, it's a wrap," said President Barack Obama on Sunday, campaigning in the state.
More polling stations open!
It's now 7am Eastern Time.
This is the main hour for states to begin opening their polls - 17 in all.
And among them are some "big names" - including Georgia and Florida, which have been hotly contested.
Louisiana is also beginning to vote; remember that is where David Duke, a former high-ranking member of the Ku Klux Klan, is hoping to get elected to the senate.
Queues already forming at polling stations
Polls open in Ohio in 5 minutes. Already long lines at my polling station. #ElectionDay
Just got to polling station at 5:50AM (10 minutes before it opens) and line is already 200 people long. #Election2016
Polls open in nine states...
And we're off!
The first ballots have been cast, as voters in nine states got first crack at electing the new president, with the rest of the country due to get started later in the day.
The polls are now open in Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Vermont and Virginia.
But there's a fair wait yet to find out who is the next President of the United States...
No idea how late we'll have to work Tuesday night, but here's when past victory/concession speeches have started.#ElectionNight
Stevie Wonder joins stars backing Clinton
PA reports:
Voting for Donald Trump is akin to asking Stevie Wonder to drive, the blind singer said as he threw his weight behind Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election.
Wonder made the comparison during a Get Out And Vote concert where he was drumming up support for the Democratic candidate.
In an interview with US publication philly.com, the singer said Mrs Clinton's experience and "respect and love for all people" were the contributing factors in his decision to back her.
"My youngest child is one year old. She is a junior millennial. So I'm looking at the future.
"I'll give you a point of reference. As much as you have great love for me and you think I'm funny and la la la la la and I make you laugh and all that, if you had an emergency situation and needed to go to the hospital, and you had to get there right away, would you want me driving your car?," Wonder said.
The Superstition singer added: "So my belief is that Hillary is an experienced person of the government, and she has spent 30 years with a commitment.
"Not to mention that her parents taught her in a kinder way, to have respect and love for all people. That's the person I want to govern, to be the leader of this nation."
Hillary poised to smash the glass ceiling
Love her or loathe her, Hillary Clinton is poised to smash the glass ceiling, writes The Telegraph's Tim Stanley from Philadelphia:
As Donald Trump appears to fade away in the polls, the true importance of this election becomes clear. America is probably about to elect its first woman president. Hillary Clinton certainly has a lot going for her. Experience. A great ground game on election day. And the ability to throw a first rate party.Clinton’s rally in Philadelphia showcased her differences with Trump. The Republican’s audiences are big and lively. But they’re also bitter. People wear t-shits that say things like, “Trump that bitch”, and they chant “lock her up! Lock her up!” By contrast, Hillary’s events are like a day out for the family. Cheerful, respectable – they are good, clean fun.
How the newspapers reacted...
The first front pages from the US are starting to appear and the New York post has decided this election's a stinker, encouraging voters to pick "the one you dislike least".
The New York Times kept the focus on the candidates' last minute rush to swing states...
And here at the Telegraph, we're quite proud of our bold election day splash:
We're keeping track of newspaper front pages around the world throughout today. You can see them here.
Polls give Clinton three point lead
As voters go to the polls on Tuesday, Hillary Clinton's lead has increased to three points in the RCP poll average. While it may not appear to be a huge lead, that's up from 1.6 on Monday morning, after the Democrat nominee was cleared in the latest email scandal.
Victory for Clinton in Dixville Notch
The Telegraph's David Millward reports:
Hillary Clinton has notched up the first big win of the 2016 election, sweeping to victory in Dixville Notch.Admittedly the electorate in the small New Hampshire township about 10 miles south of the Canadian border only had eight voters. But there was a 100 per cent turn out – with one of the electorate even voting early.Mrs Clinton took four votes, Donald Trump two. One person backedGary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate, and another, so disgusted with the choice on offer, wrote in Mitt Romney.It took all of one minute for the votes to be cast and another couple for them to be tallied and written on a white board.There was one moment of excitement when an eighth voter, Nancy DePalma, presented herself and was registered shortly after midnight.The voting was all very low tech with ballot papers rather than sophisticated machines. The only jarring modern note was the use of an iPhone to decide when it had struck midnight.Dixville Notch was one of three small settlements in the White Mountains to take advantage of a New Hampshire law which allows towns with a population of under 100 to open their polls at midnight on polling day.The concession is a testament to the frugal tradition of New Hampshire, enabling small towns to get the voting out of the way so they can get back to work the following morning.Mrs Clinton also won in Hart's Location - 17 votes to 14 - but Mr Trump was the overwhelming winner in Millsfield, with a 16-4 edge.
No comments:
Post a Comment