The world woke up to the most shocking news of the world when the unpredictable happened as Mrs Hillary Clinton, the Democratic Presidential hopeful in the US Elections who was tipped to become the first Female President of the most influential democracy in the world got the presidency slipping through her fingers.
The global media, from Azerbaijan to Zimbabwe described the victory of Mr Trump as a shocker and tried to fish for Mr Trump’s trump card. Since then, several theories and assumptions have popped up to rationalize the victory which has triggered several demonstrations across cities in the US. This is how one African news site gave a vivid account of the night: The projection on the screen was that counting was yet to be concluded and that Hillary might catch up.
However, like a Wildebeest on the African plains that spots a lion on the prowl just in time, Hillary supporters got glued on the giant screens – cheering routinely when their candidate edged, even slightly ahead of Trump in some states.
A number of Democratic Party luminaries had been scheduled to speak before Hillary would show up towards midnight local time to give her victory speech. Luminaries like Senator Charles Schumer of New York and New York mayor Bill de Blasio tried to work up the crowd. But it seems, the sting had gone out.“She will win, she will win, she will win….” Schumer said as he started his short speech.
“I am proud to join you here today as we stand on the cusp of electing our first woman president. There has never been a person more qualified for this job. In electing Hillary, you have sent a clear message that America has chosen love over hate and unity in diversity rather than division,” Schumer, a fourth time senator said.
Schumer is known for his gift of the garb, but not even his impassioned speech could take Hillary supports from the screens. Some could be seen holding their mouths in disbelief. More states, according to projections immediately after closure of polls in different parts of the US were falling in place for Trump. But it was still early days.
Then came the mothers of children who have been felled by gun violence recently. The issue of gun violence and the need to reform gun law while maintaining the constitutional right to bear arms is a routine election issue that has over the years pitted the powerful National Rifle Association lobby group against forces calling for reforms.
One such shooting that resulted into widespread violence and condemnation in 2012 was that of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed teenager in Florida. As Trayvon’s mother spoke, calling for a reflection on the issue of gun violence in America, there was thunderous uproar as confirmation came in that Hillary had carried Vermont. However, at this time, the tables had completely turned and Trump had many options on his way to the magical 270 electoral colleges required to be elected 45th US president.
With confirmation that Trump had carried Florida, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania – key battleground states with almost 100 electoral colleges, glum faced Hillary supporters holding their flags, for long stood transfixed as though cast by a spell. Many of these battle states, despite being hotly contested in both 2004 and 2008 were won by Democrats when President Barack Obama contested against John McCain and Mitt Romney respectively. Many started streaming out. New York is a traditionally Democratic leaning state and Hillary comfortably won here.
At 1am in the famous Time Square, hundreds of people were still huddled around giant screens that projected the trickle in of results. There was no wild celebration here. Both Trump and Hillary followed results from high end hotels a few blocks apart.
And when he could feel that victory was within sight, Trump laughed one final time at the pollsters that had described his presidential bid a nonstarter with a barbed tweet: “It’s happening.”
For Hilary, the presidency was so near yet so far as America woke up to one of the most election shocks in recent history’.
This is one election which has made certified Pollsters and Prophets Liars and objects of global scorn. But did anyone see it coming? With Mr Trump threatening in his campaign to refuse entry to Muslims to the US, going to build a wall to shut out Mexicans from entering the US and the most outrageous idea that the Mexicans would pay for the building of the wall among several statements against minorities, several people thought the man had shot himself in the foot by making statements which are not politically correct. It may take a long time for the Americans and the world to come to grips with the reasons for this shocker but I have pondered over a few theories like others.
1. This US election ‘bomb’ coming just on the heels of the BRIXIT where the Brits voted to opt out of the EU to re-own their country after they complained of the influx of immigrants, I am somehow convinced that the ‘politically incorrect’ campaign messages by Mr Donald Trump resonated with several people who were nursing some hatred for the immigrants who were seen to have ‘invaded’ their land.
2. Will this election let the Americans re-look at their Electoral College system? Why on earth do they push down the world the democratic pill only for them to hold on to two systems of popular votes and electoral college votes? In this election, Hillary won the popular votes but Mr Trump won the electoral college votes to become the president-elect. The after effect is the series of demonstrations.
Somebody said, Ghana will show the world the true democratic way to choose our president. But let the Prophets and Pollsters here take a cue.
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