Americans have gone to the polls this morning to elect the 45th President of the United States. Democratic hopeful, and former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton is currently leading entrepreneur Donald Trump in most polls. Commentators are still predicating a close race.
Secretary Clinton tweeted this morning “Everything we’ve worked towards comes down to today”. President Obama was also on the campaign trail in the final hours, in a get-out-the-vote campaign aimed at motivating the young and ethnic minority voters he mobilised so well in 2008 and 2012.
Donald Trump tweeted “TODAY WE MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN”. With little support from the Republican hierarchy, Trump has been relying mainly on rallies across the states and also support from right-wing media outlets such as Sean Hannity at Fox News, who addressed Hillary voters saying “you own this” if Clinton takes the White House.
The 2016 race has proved to be one of the longest and contentious elections of all time, with both major candidates facing controversial moments. Secretary Clinton’s campaigned was plagued with the private server email scandal, perpetuated by the FBI reopening the case in the closing stages of the campaign. Hillary has once again been cleared of wrongdoing. Trump has also had a share of controversies, including calling Mexicans rapists, proposing that all Muslims be banned from entering the US, bragging about committing sexual assault, being accused by 12 women of committing sexual assault, saying that he would force the military to commit war crimes, inciting violence at his rallies, and others.
With the election looking to be called between 1-3 am GMT it is still unclear how either of the Presidents will be able to unite the country after an incredibly divisive campaign.
Listen in on Burn FM on Tuesday 8th at 7 pm to hear the News Team discuss the election in detail.
