Harris falls short as US election exposes cracks in anti-Trump coalition
As Donald Trump clinches a historic comeback win, early data from the US presidential election suggests the Republican may have benefited from political shifts based largely on class, race and age, undermining the broad Democratic coalition that drove him out of power four years ago.
Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, capping a startling comeback four years after his refusal to accept defeat led to a violent insurrection at the US Capitol.
His return to the White House deals a crushing blow to the Democratic camp, beaten by a convicted felon who is no less polarising and divisive a figure than he was four years ago.
Only 44% of voters nationwide had a favourable view of Trump, according to an Election Day exit poll by Edison Research, compared to 46% who said so four years ago. 54% viewed him unfavourably, up from 52% in 2020.
And yet Democrats proved unable to convert the broad mistrust of Trump into support for Vice President Kamala Harris, failing to reassemble the coalition of voters that unseated the Republican four years ago.
That coalition notably included Black voters – historically a bedrock of Democratic support – as well as Hispanics and young voters.
In the run-up to Election Day, many Arab-American voters had vowed to punish the vice president over the Biden administration’s decision to arm, finance and offer diplomatic cover to Israel’s destruction of Gaza.
Read more on FRANCE 24 English
Read also:
Republicans take Senate majority for the first time in four years
Florida ballot initiative overturning six-week abortion ban fails
