A departure without much surprise

Indiana, Kentucky and Alabama for the Republicans and Vermont, Massachusetts and Connecticut for the Democrats: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris won states historically favorable to their respective parties, as part of a presidential election in the ‘unpredictable outcome

After polling stations closed in 21 states on Tuesday, it was the Republican Party candidate who led the race, with 95 voters out of the 270 needed to reach the White House.

Among the Democrats, Kamala Harris had 35 electors. The results were not a surprise. In each camp, victories were expected.

It could well be hours or days before we are able to attribute victory to M^me Harris, the current vice-president, who would be the first elected woman to sit behind the Oval Office, or Mr. Trump, ex-president who never admitted his defeat in 2020.

In swing states that are expected to decide the outcome of the election, like Pennsylvania, early results gave M^me Harris in advance while in Georgia, it was his Democratic rival who led.

More than 82 million Americans have already cast their vote early.

This campaign between the 60-year-old vice-president and the 78-year-old ex-president focused, on the Democratic side, on the defense of democratic institutions, the rights of women and minorities. In the Republican camp, the economy, inflation and immigration were at the heart of the campaign themes.

Mr. Trump, author of a spectacular political comeback after being convicted in court, took no time to spice up election night.

Even before the first polling stations closed, the latter raised allegations of cheating in Philadelphia in terms of counting votes, without however providing the slightest proof of these accusations, denied by the authorities.

“There are a lot of rumors about massive fraud in Philadelphia,” the Republican candidate wrote on the Truth social network about the Democratic stronghold of Pennsylvania – the most contested state in his duel with Kamala Harris.

In response to these allegations launched by Mr. Trump, Philadelphia prosecutor Larry Krasner reacted on the social network X.

“There is no factual basis to support this wild allegation. We have received complaints and allegations of irregularities all day long. If Donald J. Trump has facts to support his allegations, we want them now. Right away. »

Neck to neck

The verdict at the polls promises to be historic.

According to the latest polls, the two opponents are almost tied in the crucial states, namely North Carolina, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

In this indirect vote, these states will give the Democrat or Republican the sufficient number of electors to reach the threshold of 270 out of 538, synonymous with victory.

Hoping to convince in just three months of campaigning, Kamala Harris focused on a message of protection of democracy and the right to abortion, aimed at women as well as moderate Republicans.

For his part, Donald Trump, who left the White House in 2021 in a chaotic context, replayed the same cards as in 2016 and 2020 by presenting himself as an anti-system candidate.

This day of voting crowns a race marked by the abrupt entry into the running of M^me Harris last July, replacing outgoing President Joe Biden following faltering performances in public as well as during the first presidential debate. The Republican candidate, for his part, was targeted by two assassination attempts.

Americans also vote on whether Democrats or Republicans will control Congress, as well as to fill gubernatorial positions. The ultra-controversial issue of abortion is the subject of several local referendums.

This day of voting took place in a tense climate. For example, false bomb threats attributed to Russian destabilization operations targeted polling stations, briefly disrupting the vote in Georgia, according to authorities.

In Washington, the federal capital, metal barriers surround the White House, the Capitol and other sensitive sites.

With Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press