Trump Defies Expectations, Projected to Secure 198 Electoral Votes; Harris Trails Behind

Donald Trump is projected to win Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, while Kamala Harris has secured Vermont, according to early results from the ongoing U.S. election. Trump is currently leading with 198 projected electoral votes, while Harris has 109, with both candidates vying for the decisive 270 electoral votes.

The counting process has begun across the United States, and network projections indicate that Trump is leading in 17 states, while Harris has claimed victory in seven. The projections so far cover states that traditionally favor either the Democrats or the Republicans, excluding critical swing states that could determine the outcome of the election. Notably, Trump is also reported to be leading in the pivotal swing state of Georgia.

In the race for electoral votes, both candidates are closely watching the outcomes in the seven key battleground states: Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. With trends in Nevada and Arizona yet to come in, Trump currently holds a slight lead in three of the swing states, while Harris leads in two. The tight contest in these states is expected to play a decisive role in determining the 47th President of the United States.

The election has been fiercely contested, with both Trump and Harris neck and neck on election day, Tuesday. Exit polls have shed light on the key issues driving voters to the polls, with the state of democracy, the economy, and abortion being the most important concerns. According to a CBS News poll, nearly 60% of voters ranked the state of democracy as their top issue, while 5% prioritized abortion. The economy was identified as the primary concern for around 10% of voters.

Another exit poll conducted by CNN revealed that nearly three-quarters of voters held a negative view of the current state of affairs in the country. Only a quarter expressed enthusiasm or satisfaction with the nation's direction, while over 40% reported feeling dissatisfied, and roughly 30% described themselves as angry.

The battle for the White House remains tightly contested, with all eyes on the results from the swing states, which are set to determine the future of the United States.