Different Implications Of U.S. Electoral Outcome On SL

Presidential Elections in the United States (US) generate interest from the world over. Americans went to polls on November 3 in record numbers, according to the foreign media, braving the pandemic.

- Kelum Bandara

The results had started rolling in yesterday. This was an election meant for American citizens to re-elect incumbent President Donald Trump or to unseat him in favour of onetime Vice President Joe Biden, the candidate fielded by the Democrats.

In the run-up to the elections, most opinion polls predicted President Trump would lose the election this time over criticism of his response to the COVID-19 pandemic that took a heavy toll on US citizens and the economy. In the pre-COVID-19 context, the sitting President had major pluses up his sleeve for re-election. The sound performance of the US economy and his policy on immigration stood in his favour among conservatives. However, the pandemic broke out making the US the worst affected country in the world, with nearly ten million cases and 233,000 fatalities. The president’s response to the pandemic came under severe criticism by the US mainstream media, and some analysts projected all his gains would be undone by his handling of the health crisis. They forecast his ranking against rival Joe Bidden would drop drastically.

The election took place against such a backdrop. A record number of people lined up for voting, and over 100 million people had cast their ballots either by mail or through early voting, making it a record. The fear of the coronavirus spurred early voting.

But, this election appeared to be extremely unpredictable as results of the States that rolled out first as of yesterday found both candidates neck and neck. The results clearly indicated President Trump’s popularity had not plummeted to abysmal depths over his handling of the pandemic, contrary to perceptions held by many in this regard.