The United States of America has elected former vice president Joseph Biden as its 46th president
Biden, who was Barack Obama’s vice president was elected on Nov 4th, 2020 in a bitter election contest with the incumbent president, Donald J. Trump.
Joe Biden, a former lawyer and law teacher became a member of the United States Senate in 1972 at 29. Soon after his election to the Senate his wife and daughter were killed in an auto accident.
He continued his career in the senate until 2008 when Barack Obama, America’s first black president chose him as running mate. He served as vice president for eight years.
Donald Trump, against all expectations, was elected in a very controversial election in 2016. He defeated his democratic party challenger, former senator and first lady, Hillary Clinton.
The Nov 3rd, 2020 election has been a nail-biter. Unlike previous elections where the winner is known on the night of the election, results of the election have taken days to count.
Also, the Republican party flag bearer and incumbent president, Donald Trump has tried to cast doubts on the election since Wednesday morning when it became obvious that the ballot counting would be protracted.
Donald Trump and his sons have tried to incite violence by asking his supporters to ‘rise up and defend their votes from being stolen.’
America is a country of 50 states, yet the election hinged on results from four states Pennsylvania, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada.
Joe Biden, a Democrat, flipped the traditional red states of Georgia and Arizona to get to this moment.
In 2016, Donald Trump shattered the traditional blue wall of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to defeat Hillary Clinton.
However, Donald Trump’s four-year reign was characterised by controversies and scandals. He is a very divisive figure who was viewed by many as an existential threat to the United States.
Trump inherited a very robust economy from the Obama administration and continued the prosperity with very high employment for all the demographics.
Yet, race relations worsened during the Trump administration leading to an increase in domestic terrorism with militia activities rising. Donald Trump was viewed by many as a racist and white supremacist.
Joe Biden is a man of destiny and great moments. He was vice president to America’s first black president. His running mate, Kamala Harris will be America’s first female vice president and first black vice president. Joe Biden, who is 77 years old will be America’s oldest president on inauguration day on January 20, 2021, at 78. He was elected by more people than any previous president in the history of America.
The United States elect its president, not on the basis of who scored more votes but through the electoral college. To be elected, a candidate must score at least 270 electoral college votes. Joe Biden is expected to score between 270 and 306 votes.
Biden first contested for presidential primaries in 1998. He ran again in 2008.
Donald Trump will go down in history as one of the casualties of Coronavirus, a pandemic which he did not take very seriously although he knew it was a very infectious disease.
Trump also has the dubious honour of having told more lies than any American president, living or dead. He is reputed to have told more than 25,000 lies so far in his presidency.
President-elect Joe Biden, on inauguration in 2021 will inherit a divided country. His actions in the first few months of his administration will be consequential in healing a very fractured country.