csmonitor--2020-11-07--Joe Biden wins presidential race as votes pile up in Pennsylvania

Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday , positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil .
His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed the processing of some ballots .
Mr. Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania .
Mr. Biden staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ threat to American democracy .
The strategy paid off , resulting in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania , onetime Democratic bastions that had flipped to Mr. Trump in 2016 .
Mr. Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million , a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted .
Mr. Trump seized on delays in processing the vote in some states to falsely allege voter fraud and argue that his rival was trying to seize power – an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process .
As the vote count played out , Mr. Biden tried to ease tensions and project an image of presidential leadership , hitting notes of unity that were seemingly aimed at cooling the temperature of a heated , divided nation .
`` We have to remember the purpose of our politics is n't total unrelenting , unending warfare , '' Mr. Biden said Friday night in Delaware .
`` No , the purpose of our politics , the work of our nation , is n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but to solve problems , to guarantee justice , to give everybody a fair shot . ''
Kamala Harris also made history as the first woman and first Black person to become vice president , an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice .
The California senator , who is also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency , will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government , four years after Mr. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton .
Mr. Trump is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican George H.W .
Bush in 1992 .
It was unclear whether Trump would publicly concede .
Americans showed deep interest in the presidential race .
A record 103 million voted early this year , opting to avoid waiting in long lines at polling locations during a pandemic .
With counting continuing in some states , Mr. Biden had already received more than 74 million votes , more than any presidential candidate before him .
More than 236,000 Americans have died during the coronavirus pandemic , nearly 10 million have been infected and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The final days of the campaign played out against the backdrop of a surge in confirmed cases in nearly every state , including battlegrounds such as Wisconsin that swung to Biden .
The pandemic will soon be Mr. Biden 's to tame , and he campaigned pledging a big government response , akin to what Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw with the New Deal during the Depression of the 1930s .
But Senate Republicans fought back several Democratic challengers and looked to retain a fragile majority that could serve as a check on Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a referendum on Mr. Trump 's handling of the pandemic , which has shuttered schools across the nation , disrupted businesses and raised questions about the feasibility of family gatherings heading into the holidays .
The fast spread of the coronavirus transformed political rallies from standard campaign fare to gatherings that were potential public health emergencies .
It also contributed to an unprecedented shift to voting early and by mail and prompted Mr. Biden to dramatically scale back his travel and events to comply with restrictions .
Mr. Trump defied calls for caution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He was saddled throughout the year by negative assessments from the public of his handling of the pandemic .
Mr. Biden also drew a sharp contrast to Trump through a summer of unrest over the police killings of Black Americans including Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minneapolis .
Their deaths sparked the largest racial protest movement since the civil rights era .
Mr. Biden responded by acknowledging the racism that pervades American life , while Trump emphasized his support of police and pivoted to a `` law and order '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ base .
The president 's most ardent backers never wavered and may remain loyal to him and his supporters in Congress after Mr. Trump has departed the White House .
The third president to be impeached , though acquitted in the Senate , Mr. Trump will leave office having left an indelible imprint in a tenure defined by the shattering of White House norms and a day-to-day whirlwind of turnover , partisan divide and the ever-present threat via his Twitter account .
Mr. Biden , born in Scranton , Pennsylvania , and raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youngest candidates ever elected to the Senate .
Before he took office , his wife and daughter were killed , and his two sons badly injured in a 1972 car crash .
Commuting every night on a train from Washington back to Wilmington , Mr. Biden fashioned an everyman political persona to go along with powerful Senate positions , including chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees .
Some aspects of his record drew critical scrutiny from fellow Democrats , including his support for the 1994 crime bill , his vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management of the Clarence Thomas ' Supreme Court hearings .
Mr. Biden 's 1988 presidential campaign was done in by plagiarism allegations , and his next bid in 2008 ended quietly .
But later that year , he was tapped to be Barack Obama 's running mate and he became an influential vice president , steering the administration 's outreach to both Capitol Hill and Iraq .
While his reputation was burnished by his time in office and his deep friendship with Mr. Obama , Mr. Biden stood aside for Mrs. Clinton and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his adult son Beau died of brain cancer the year before .
Mr. Trump 's tenure pushed Mr. Biden to make one more run as he declared that `` the very soul of the nation is at stake . ''
This story was reported by The Associated Press .
AP writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report .

Democrat Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump to become the 46th president of the United States on Saturday, positioning himself to lead a nation gripped by historic pandemic and a confluence of economic and social turmoil.
His victory came after more than three days of uncertainty as election officials sorted through a surge of mail-in votes that delayed the processing of some ballots. Mr. Biden crossed 270 Electoral College votes with a win in Pennsylvania.
Mr. Biden staked his candidacy less on any distinctive political ideology than on galvanizing a broad coalition of voters around the notion that Mr. Trump posed an existential threat to American democracy. The strategy paid off, resulting in pivotal victories in Michigan and Wisconsin as well as Pennsylvania, onetime Democratic bastions that had flipped to Mr. Trump in 2016.
Mr. Biden was on track to win the national popular vote by more than 4 million, a margin that could grow as ballots continue to be counted.
Mr. Trump seized on delays in processing the vote in some states to falsely allege voter fraud and argue that his rival was trying to seize power – an extraordinary charge by a sitting president trying to sow doubt about a bedrock democratic process.
As the vote count played out, Mr. Biden tried to ease tensions and project an image of presidential leadership, hitting notes of unity that were seemingly aimed at cooling the temperature of a heated, divided nation.
"We have to remember the purpose of our politics isn't total unrelenting, unending warfare," Mr. Biden said Friday night in Delaware. "No, the purpose of our politics, the work of our nation, isn't to fan the flames of conflict, but to solve problems, to guarantee justice, to give everybody a fair shot."
Kamala Harris also made history as the first woman and first Black person to become vice president, an achievement that comes as the U.S. faces a reckoning on racial justice. The California senator, who is also the first person of South Asian descent elected to the vice presidency, will become the highest-ranking woman ever to serve in government, four years after Mr. Trump defeated Hillary Clinton.
Mr. Trump is the first incumbent president to lose reelection since Republican George H.W. Bush in 1992. It was unclear whether Mr. Trump would publicly concede.
Americans showed deep interest in the presidential race. A record 103 million voted early this year, opting to avoid waiting in long lines at polling locations during a pandemic. With counting continuing in some states, Mr. Biden had already received more than 74 million votes, more than any presidential candidate before him.
More than 236,000 Americans have died during the coronavirus pandemic, nearly 10 million have been infected and millions of jobs have been lost. The final days of the campaign played out against the backdrop of a surge in confirmed cases in nearly every state, including battlegrounds such as Wisconsin that swung to Mr. Biden.
The pandemic will soon be Mr. Biden's to tame, and he campaigned pledging a big government response, akin to what Franklin D. Roosevelt oversaw with the New Deal during the Depression of the 1930s. But Senate Republicans fought back several Democratic challengers and looked to retain a fragile majority that could serve as a check on Mr. Biden ambitions.
The 2020 campaign was a referendum on Mr. Trump's handling of the pandemic, which has shuttered schools across the nation, disrupted businesses and raised questions about the feasibility of family gatherings heading into the holidays.
The fast spread of the coronavirus transformed political rallies from standard campaign fare to gatherings that were potential public health emergencies. It also contributed to an unprecedented shift to voting early and by mail and prompted Mr. Biden to dramatically scale back his travel and events to comply with restrictions. Mr. Trump defied calls for caution and ultimately contracted the disease himself. He was saddled throughout the year by negative assessments from the public of his handling of the pandemic.
Mr. Biden also drew a sharp contrast to Mr. Trump through a summer of unrest over the police killings of Black Americans including Breonna Taylor in Kentucky and George Floyd in Minneapolis. Their deaths sparked the largest racial protest movement since the civil rights era. Mr. Biden responded by acknowledging the racism that pervades American life, while Trump emphasized his support of police and pivoted to a "law and order" message that resonated with his largely white base.
The president's most ardent backers never wavered and may remain loyal to him and his supporters in Congress after Mr. Trump has departed the White House.
The third president to be impeached, though acquitted in the Senate, Mr. Trump will leave office having left an indelible imprint in a tenure defined by the shattering of White House norms and a day-to-day whirlwind of turnover, partisan divide and the ever-present threat via his Twitter account.
Mr. Biden, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and raised in Delaware, was one of the youngest candidates ever elected to the Senate. Before he took office, his wife and daughter were killed, and his two sons badly injured in a 1972 car crash.
Commuting every night on a train from Washington back to Wilmington, Mr. Biden fashioned an everyman political persona to go along with powerful Senate positions, including chairman of the Senate Judiciary and Foreign Relations Committees. Some aspects of his record drew critical scrutiny from fellow Democrats, including his support for the 1994 crime bill, his vote for the 2003 Iraq War and his management of the Clarence Thomas' Supreme Court hearings.
Mr. Biden's 1988 presidential campaign was done in by plagiarism allegations, and his next bid in 2008 ended quietly. But later that year, he was tapped to be Barack Obama's running mate and he became an influential vice president, steering the administration's outreach to both Capitol Hill and Iraq.
While his reputation was burnished by his time in office and his deep friendship with Mr. Obama, Mr. Biden stood aside for Mrs. Clinton and opted not to run in 2016 after his adult son Beau died of brain cancer the year before.
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Mr. Trump's tenure pushed Mr. Biden to make one more run as he declared that "the very soul of the nation is at stake."
This story was reported by The Associated Press. AP writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.


csmonitor--2020-11-06--Can a President Biden lead a divided America?

“ Certainly a large part of the country is suffering from Trump fatigue , ” says Ed Goeas , a Republican strategist in Alexandria , Virginia .
“ [ Mr. Biden ] has a real opportunity ... to work from the center.
” A Democratic-Republican split between the White House and Senate may sound like a recipe for gridlock , but given Mr. Biden ’ s long-standing relationship with Senator McConnell as well as other Republican lawmakers , some say it could provide an opportunity for America to regroup and see modest bipartisan progress .
As of press time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swing states still counting ballots – with a growing lead in the biggest prize of Pennsylvania , which alone is enough to give him the White House .
Control of the Senate will likely come down to two Georgia runoffs , the last nine of which have produced Republican winners .
While President Donald Trump has vowed court challenges , Democrats as well as Republicans have pushed back on his allegations of widespread irregularities .
Around the Obama White House , Joe Biden was known as “ the McConnell whisperer.
” That may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up producing a President Biden and preserving Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell ’ s role as majority leader .
New Hampshire Democrat Frank Fahey once clashed with Joe Biden on national TV .
Now he thinks the former vice president is exactly the bridge-builder America needs .
When Mr. Biden was first running for president , in 1987 , he derided Mr. Fahey for asking about his academic track record , boasting that he probably had a higher IQ than the New Hampshire educator .
The moment went viral , 1980s-style , and an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the race shortly thereafter .
Today Mr. Fahey , now retired and an avid follower of nitty-gritty congressional deliberations , says he ’ s seen a mellowing in the erstwhile Delaware senator – born not only of professional experience , including 36 years in the Senate , but also of the personal trials of a man who lost his young wife and daughter , and in 2015 , his adult son Beau .
“ I think he has compassion , which is something we need right now , ” says Mr. Fahey by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ongoing vote tallies in Arizona and Georgia .
As of press time , Mr. Biden was leading in four key swing states still counting the remaining 2 % to 8 % of ballots – with a growing lead in the biggest prize of Pennsylvania , which alone would be enough to give him the White House .
While President Donald Trump and his campaign have launched court challenges , and many have cautioned against calling the election prematurely , Democrats as well as Republicans have pushed back on the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate will likely come down to two Georgia runoffs , the last nine of which have produced Republican winners , even when the Democrats led in the initial vote .
After a particularly divisive four years , the extreme wings of both parties are revved up , and any suspicions about the fairness and credibility of the election could lead to further agitation .
But many others across the country – from voters to mayors to state representatives – see this election as a clear indication that trying to govern as if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party ’ s vision of sweeping change is not going to work .
Perhaps counterintuitively , the outcome that currently looks most likely – a Democratic president with a Republican Senate and more evenly balanced House – could provide an opportunity for America to regroup and see modest bipartisan progress .
That ’ s in part because Mr. Biden has long-standing relationships with many Republican lawmakers , particularly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky .
“ Certainly a large part of the country is suffering from Trump fatigue , ” says Ed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Virginia .
“ [ Mr. Biden ] has a real opportunity ... to work from the center and not be pulled into what appears to be a desire on the part of the progressives to go to war.
” Still , former New Jersey Gov .
Christine Todd Whitman , a Republican , emphasized the importance of not calling the election prematurely , even as it appeared increasingly likely that Mr. Biden would win .
“ Every vote needs to be counted , ” says Governor Whitman , the national chairwoman of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Trump administration ’ s court challenges should be taken seriously .
“ Those will need to be heard , so that people have confidence that it is what we want it to be – a free and fair election.
” Should the Senate remain in Republican hands while the White House goes to Democrats , Senator McConnell and a President Biden would become the nexus of power in Washington .
The two have a strong working relationship and a long Senate history in common , including working on legislation targeting voter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2015 funeral , the Kentucky senator was the only Senate Republican to attend .
Vice President Biden was Senator McConnell ’ s go-to negotiating partner in the Obama administration , together getting the country past the shoals of debt and fiscal crises .
Around the White House , the vice president was called “ the McConnell whisperer.
” To the surprise of many , the Senate stepped up its productivity when Republicans took control in the last two years of the Obama presidency – working out deals on infrastructure , budget , education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country has become increasingly polarized since then , both Mr. Biden and Senator McConnell are likely to be thinking ahead to how history will view them , says Steve Voss , a political scientist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington .
“ So that ’ s an opportunity for them to not worry too much about the clamor among the noisy wings of their party , ” says Professor Voss .
Still , Senator McConnell ’ s pitch to voters this year was to keep the Senate in Republican hands as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Mitch is not about public policy ; Mitch is about power .
Anything that makes Biden look good , he ’ s going to think twice about , ” said former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp , in a preelection interview .
As majority leader , Senator McConnell would control the Senate agenda , and can be expected to block progressive priorities , including progressive Cabinet picks and judges , if Mr. Biden were to nominate them .
The Kentucky lawmaker ’ s strength , said Senator Heitkamp , a centrist from North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his caucus .
The way for Mr. Biden to break that is to work with individual Republican senators , such as Susan Collins , who won reelection in Maine , or Rob Portman of Ohio .
Senator McConnell may find it harder to control his caucus as a number of senators consider their own presidential bids in 2024 .
“ There ’ s going to be a lot of competitive pressures on him .
There will be [ conservative ] folks who want to burn the place down and moderates who will say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , ’ ” said John Feehery , former spokesman under Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert , also in a preelection interview .
By the same token , Mr. Biden could face significant pressure from “ the Squad ” and other progressive members of Congress who would have vastly preferred a President Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren .
But in that regard , Senator McConnell could become a useful foil , allowing Mr. Biden to blame the majority leader for stymieing a progressive agenda , rather than dealing head-on with intra-Democratic divides .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ modest baby steps in terms of policy innovation ... if he ’ s going to get anything through the Senate , ” says Charles S. Bullock III , a professor of political science at the University of Georgia .
“ [ That ] will frustrate the left wing of the party but also possibly give him an excuse for why he can ’ t go further left.
” If Mr. Biden begins his presidency by rekindling and building on relationships with his former Republican Senate colleagues , and they are game to work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effect to their constituents , says Martha Hennessey , a Democratic state senator in New Hampshire .
“ If they are telling the people they represent ... ‘ This is OK , we ’ re going to give this guy a chance , ’ ... if they even give a hint of that – people will start to calm down , and breathe deeply , ” says Senator Hennessey , whose party just lost control of both chambers of the state legislature in the nastiest election she ever recalls seeing in New Hampshire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polarized – and whether it was driven or simply reflected by Washington – is difficult .
But most political scholars agree a clear turning point was 1994 , when Georgia Rep. Newt Gingrich led a Republican charge to take back the House .
After years of compromising with Democratic-dominated chambers of Congress , he argued it was time for “ trench warfare , ” says Professor Bullock of the University of Georgia .
The GOP takeover that vaulted Mr. Gingrich into the speaker ’ s chair – and the no-holds-barred approach behind it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambitious politicians , who began adopting similar techniques , on both sides of the aisle .
During that time , more lawmakers also began keeping their families in their home states , coming to Washington only for weekday business and ending an era of bipartisan mingling over dinner parties and children ’ s soccer games .
“ Gingrich gets a fair amount of the credit or the blame for what politics has become today , ” says Professor Bullock .
Parallel to that , voters have increasingly “ sorted ” themselves into partisan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distinct , creating an urban-rural divide .
“ We talk about the online echo chambers and ideological bubbles in which folks exist , ” says Professor Voss , who describes himself as a radical centrist .
But , he adds , if more voters lived among people who were different from them politically , “ it wouldn ’ t have the power that it does.
” At the local level , some officials point out they can ’ t afford to let polarization stand in the way of fixing potholes or repairing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t know if it came out from Washington or we sent it back toward Washington , ” says Donnie Tuck , the independent mayor of Hampton , Virginia .
But wherever it started , it needs to be stopped at every level , from the president on down , adds Mayor Tuck , who makes a point of attending social gatherings and meetings with people who don ’ t agree with him .
“ We need leadership that will try to bring us together.
” Democratic Mayor Steve Williams of Huntington , West @ @ @ @ @ @ @ term with 62 % of the vote in a deep-red county , points out that the oath of office taken by politicians is not to uphold a political party but the Constitution of the United States .
“ That ’ s what this nation needs right now – put the nation first , ” says Mayor Williams , whose city has become a national model for dealing with the opioid crisis , for which he credits his own community ’ s willingness to work together as well as support and funding from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are some people in Washington who want division , because as they push division on both the right and the left , more [ campaign ] dollars come rolling in , ” he says .
“ Let ’ s ... just start getting something done.
” In a speech Thursday , Mr. Biden reprised themes of unity he ’ s often emphasized on the campaign trail .
“ Once this election is finalized and behind us , it will be time for us to do what we ’ ve always done as Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the campaign behind us , ” he said , calling for the nation to unite , heal , and come together .
“ I am campaigning as a Democrat .
But I will govern as an American president .
The presidency itself is not a partisan institution .
It is the one office in this nation that represents everyone .
...
I will work as hard for those who didn ’ t vote for me as I will for those who did vote for me.
” He may have his work cut out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt in the run-up to the election about whether he could or would hold off the increasingly energized left wing of his party , whose progressive agenda and stark discourse alarmed moderates .
Meanwhile , all eyes are on Pennsylvania as it tallies up the remaining ballots , cast by voters like Kim Davis .
She waited an hour and 15 minutes to vote in Glen Rock , but said earlier this week as she exited the polling place that she would have waited four hours if that ’ s what it took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As in 2016 , she cast her ballot for Mr. Trump , whom she described as the “ lesser of the evils.
” Wearing nursing scrubs and walking back to her Mini Cooper , Ms. Davis expressed a desire for greater moderation on both sides .
“ We forget that our end goal is serving the country , not serving a political party , ” she said .

“Certainly a large part of the country is suffering from Trump fatigue,” says Ed Goeas, a Republican strategist in Alexandria, Virginia. “[Mr. Biden] has a real opportunity ... to work from the center.”
A Democratic-Republican split between the White House and Senate may sound like a recipe for gridlock, but given Mr. Biden’s long-standing relationship with Senator McConnell as well as other Republican lawmakers, some say it could provide an opportunity for America to regroup and see modest bipartisan progress.
To many, the election was a clear indication that governing as if there’s a mandate for either party’s vision is not going to work. Divided government could, however, provide an opportunity for modest bipartisan progress.
As of press time, Mr. Biden was leading in four key swing states still counting ballots – with a growing lead in the biggest prize of Pennsylvania, which alone is enough to give him the White House. Control of the Senate will likely come down to two Georgia runoffs, the last nine of which have produced Republican winners. While President Donald Trump has vowed court challenges, Democrats as well as Republicans have pushed back on his allegations of widespread irregularities.
Around the Obama White House, Joe Biden was known as “the McConnell whisperer.” That may come in handy if the election ends up producing a President Biden and preserving Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell’s role as majority leader.
New Hampshire Democrat Frank Fahey once clashed with Joe Biden on national TV. Now he thinks the former vice president is exactly the bridge-builder America needs.
When Mr. Biden was first running for president, in 1987, he derided Mr. Fahey for asking about his academic track record, boasting that he probably had a higher IQ than the New Hampshire educator. The moment went viral, 1980s-style, and an already beleaguered Mr. Biden dropped out of the race shortly thereafter.
Today Mr. Fahey, now retired and an avid follower of nitty-gritty congressional deliberations, says he’s seen a mellowing in the erstwhile Delaware senator – born not only of professional experience, including 36 years in the Senate, but also of the personal trials of a man who lost his young wife and daughter, and in 2015, his adult son Beau.
Why We Wrote This To many, the election was a clear indication that governing as if there’s a mandate for either party’s vision is not going to work. Divided government could, however, provide an opportunity for modest bipartisan progress.
“I think he has compassion, which is something we need right now,” says Mr. Fahey by phone, while watching TV coverage of the ongoing vote tallies in Arizona and Georgia.
As of press time, Mr. Biden was leading in four key swing states still counting the remaining 2% to 8% of ballots – with a growing lead in the biggest prize of Pennsylvania, which alone would be enough to give him the White House. While President Donald Trump and his campaign have launched court challenges, and many have cautioned against calling the election prematurely, Democrats as well as Republicans have pushed back on the president’s allegations of widespread irregularities. Control of the Senate will likely come down to two Georgia runoffs, the last nine of which have produced Republican winners, even when the Democrats led in the initial vote.
After a particularly divisive four years, the extreme wings of both parties are revved up, and any suspicions about the fairness and credibility of the election could lead to further agitation. But many others across the country – from voters to mayors to state representatives – see this election as a clear indication that trying to govern as if there’s a mandate for either party’s vision of sweeping change is not going to work.
Perhaps counterintuitively, the outcome that currently looks most likely – a Democratic president with a Republican Senate and more evenly balanced House – could provide an opportunity for America to regroup and see modest bipartisan progress. That’s in part because Mr. Biden has long-standing relationships with many Republican lawmakers, particularly Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
“Certainly a large part of the country is suffering from Trump fatigue,” says Ed Goeas, a Republican strategist in Alexandria, Virginia. “[Mr. Biden] has a real opportunity ... to work from the center and not be pulled into what appears to be a desire on the part of the progressives to go to war.”
Still, former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman, a Republican, emphasized the importance of not calling the election prematurely, even as it appeared increasingly likely that Mr. Biden would win.
“Every vote needs to be counted,” says Governor Whitman, the national chairwoman of Republicans and Independents for Biden, adding that the Trump administration’s court challenges should be taken seriously. “Those will need to be heard, so that people have confidence that it is what we want it to be – a free and fair election.”
Melanie Stetson Freeman/The Christian Science Monitor/File View caption Hide caption Voter Frank Fahey clashed with Joe Biden on national TV during Mr. Biden's first presidential run in 1987, after Mr. Fahey questioned his academic track record. Now the retired New Hampshire educator thinks the former vice president is exactly the bridge-builder America needs.
The new-old power couple
Should the Senate remain in Republican hands while the White House goes to Democrats, Senator McConnell and a President Biden would become the nexus of power in Washington. The two have a strong working relationship and a long Senate history in common, including working on legislation targeting voter fraud. At Beau Biden’s 2015 funeral, the Kentucky senator was the only Senate Republican to attend.
Vice President Biden was Senator McConnell’s go-to negotiating partner in the Obama administration, together getting the country past the shoals of debt and fiscal crises. Around the White House, the vice president was called “the McConnell whisperer.” To the surprise of many, the Senate stepped up its productivity when Republicans took control in the last two years of the Obama presidency – working out deals on infrastructure, budget, education, and Medicare with Democrats.
Though the country has become increasingly polarized since then, both Mr. Biden and Senator McConnell are likely to be thinking ahead to how history will view them, says Steve Voss, a political scientist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington.
“So that’s an opportunity for them to not worry too much about the clamor among the noisy wings of their party,” says Professor Voss.
Still, Senator McConnell’s pitch to voters this year was to keep the Senate in Republican hands as a “firewall” against Democrats. “Mitch is not about public policy; Mitch is about power. Anything that makes Biden look good, he’s going to think twice about,” said former Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, in a preelection interview.
As majority leader, Senator McConnell would control the Senate agenda, and can be expected to block progressive priorities, including progressive Cabinet picks and judges, if Mr. Biden were to nominate them. The Kentucky lawmaker’s strength, said Senator Heitkamp, a centrist from North Dakota, is his tight control of his caucus. The way for Mr. Biden to break that is to work with individual Republican senators, such as Susan Collins, who won reelection in Maine, or Rob Portman of Ohio.
Senator McConnell may find it harder to control his caucus as a number of senators consider their own presidential bids in 2024. “There’s going to be a lot of competitive pressures on him. There will be [conservative] folks who want to burn the place down and moderates who will say, ‘We need to heal the country,’” said John Feehery, former spokesman under Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, also in a preelection interview.
By the same token, Mr. Biden could face significant pressure from “the Squad” and other progressive members of Congress who would have vastly preferred a President Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren. But in that regard, Senator McConnell could become a useful foil, allowing Mr. Biden to blame the majority leader for stymieing a progressive agenda, rather than dealing head-on with intra-Democratic divides.
“Biden will have to take very modest baby steps in terms of policy innovation ... if he’s going to get anything through the Senate,” says Charles S. Bullock III, a professor of political science at the University of Georgia. “[That] will frustrate the left wing of the party but also possibly give him an excuse for why he can’t go further left.”
A trickle-down effect
If Mr. Biden begins his presidency by rekindling and building on relationships with his former Republican Senate colleagues, and they are game to work together, that could have a trickle-down effect to their constituents, says Martha Hennessey, a Democratic state senator in New Hampshire.
“If they are telling the people they represent ... ‘This is OK, we’re going to give this guy a chance,’ ... if they even give a hint of that – people will start to calm down, and breathe deeply,” says Senator Hennessey, whose party just lost control of both chambers of the state legislature in the nastiest election she ever recalls seeing in New Hampshire.
Determining how the country got so polarized – and whether it was driven or simply reflected by Washington – is difficult. But most political scholars agree a clear turning point was 1994, when Georgia Rep. Newt Gingrich led a Republican charge to take back the House. After years of compromising with Democratic-dominated chambers of Congress, he argued it was time for “trench warfare,” says Professor Bullock of the University of Georgia.
The GOP takeover that vaulted Mr. Gingrich into the speaker’s chair – and the no-holds-barred approach behind it – did not go unnoticed by other ambitious politicians, who began adopting similar techniques, on both sides of the aisle. During that time, more lawmakers also began keeping their families in their home states, coming to Washington only for weekday business and ending an era of bipartisan mingling over dinner parties and children’s soccer games.
“Gingrich gets a fair amount of the credit or the blame for what politics has become today,” says Professor Bullock.
Parallel to that, voters have increasingly “sorted” themselves into partisan camps that are both ideologically and geographically distinct, creating an urban-rural divide.
“We talk about the online echo chambers and ideological bubbles in which folks exist,” says Professor Voss, who describes himself as a radical centrist. But, he adds, if more voters lived among people who were different from them politically, “it wouldn’t have the power that it does.”
At the local level, some officials point out they can’t afford to let polarization stand in the way of fixing potholes or repairing the sewer system.
“I don’t know if it came out from Washington or we sent it back toward Washington,” says Donnie Tuck, the independent mayor of Hampton, Virginia. But wherever it started, it needs to be stopped at every level, from the president on down, adds Mayor Tuck, who makes a point of attending social gatherings and meetings with people who don’t agree with him. “We need leadership that will try to bring us together.”
Democratic Mayor Steve Williams of Huntington, West Virginia, who just won his third term with 62% of the vote in a deep-red county, points out that the oath of office taken by politicians is not to uphold a political party but the Constitution of the United States.
“That’s what this nation needs right now – put the nation first,” says Mayor Williams, whose city has become a national model for dealing with the opioid crisis, for which he credits his own community’s willingness to work together as well as support and funding from the Obama and Trump administrations.
“There are some people in Washington who want division, because as they push division on both the right and the left, more [campaign] dollars come rolling in,” he says. “Let’s ... just start getting something done.”
In a speech Thursday, Mr. Biden reprised themes of unity he’s often emphasized on the campaign trail.
“Once this election is finalized and behind us, it will be time for us to do what we’ve always done as Americans: to put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us,” he said, calling for the nation to unite, heal, and come together. “I am campaigning as a Democrat. But I will govern as an American president. The presidency itself is not a partisan institution. It is the one office in this nation that represents everyone. ... I will work as hard for those who didn’t vote for me as I will for those who did vote for me.”
He may have his work cut out for him, with many conservatives expressing doubt in the run-up to the election about whether he could or would hold off the increasingly energized left wing of his party, whose progressive agenda and stark discourse alarmed moderates.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on Pennsylvania as it tallies up the remaining ballots, cast by voters like Kim Davis.
She waited an hour and 15 minutes to vote in Glen Rock, but said earlier this week as she exited the polling place that she would have waited four hours if that’s what it took to exercise her right to vote. As in 2016, she cast her ballot for Mr. Trump, whom she described as the “lesser of the evils.”
Wearing nursing scrubs and walking back to her Mini Cooper, Ms. Davis expressed a desire for greater moderation on both sides.
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“We forget that our end goal is serving the country, not serving a political party,” she said.
Staff writer Story Hinckley contributed reporting from Pennsylvania.


csmonitor--2020-11-07--‘Time to heal in America,’ Biden says in post-election speech

President-elect Joe Biden declared it was `` time to heal '' a deeply divided America in his first speech after prevailing on Saturday in a bitter election , even as President Donald Trump refused to concede .
`` The people of this nation have spoken .
They have delivered us a clear victory , a convincing victory , '' Mr. Biden told honking and cheering supporters in a parking lot in his home town of Wilmington , Delaware , on Saturday night .
The Democrat 's victory in the battleground state of Pennsylvania put him over the threshold of 270 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency , ending four days of nail-biting suspense .
Mr. Biden pledged that as president he would seek to unify the country and `` marshal the forces of decency '' to battle the coronavirus pandemic , rebuild economic prosperity , secure healthcare for American families , and root out systemic racism .
Mr. Biden addressed the 70 million Americans who cast ballots in support of Trump , some of whom took to the streets on Saturday to demonstrate against the results .
`` For all those of you who voted for President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I 've lost a couple times myself .
But now , let 's give each other a chance .
It 's time to put away the harsh rhetoric , lower the temperature , see each other again , listen to each other again , '' he said .
`` This is the time to heal in America . ''
He also thanked Black voters , saying that even at his campaign 's lowest moments the African American community had stood up for him .
`` They always have my back , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Biden was introduced by his running mate , U.S .
Senator Kamala Harris , who will be the first woman , the first Black American and the first American of Asian descent to serve as vice president .
`` What a testament it is to Joe 's character that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country , and select a woman as his vice president , '' Ms. Harris said .
Congratulations poured in from abroad , including from conservative British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister Justin Trudeau , and German Chancellor Angela Merkel , making it hard for Mr. Trump to push his repeated claims , without evidence , that the election was rigged against him .
Trump , who was golfing when the major television networks projected his rival had won , immediately accused Mr. Biden of `` rushing to falsely pose as the winner . ''
`` This election is far from over , '' he said in a statement .
Mr. Trump has filed a raft of lawsuits to challenge the results , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say there has been no evidence of significant fraud , and legal experts say Mr. Trump 's efforts are unlikely to succeed .
Prior to the election , Mr. Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost , and he falsely declared victory long before counting was complete .
For Mr. Biden 's supporters , it was fitting that Pennsylvania ensured his victory .
He was born in the industrial city of Scranton in the state 's northeast and , touting his middle-class credentials , secured the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working-class voters who had supported Mr. Trump in 2016 .
He launched his campaign in Pittsburgh last year and wrapped it up with a rally there on Tuesday .
It was a tight race in industrial states such as Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , and Minnesota , but Mr. Biden did enough to prevail .
Mr. Biden 's victory was driven by strong support from groups including women , African Americans , white voters with college degrees , and city-dwellers .
He beat Mr. Trump by more than four million votes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , who has spent half a century in public life as a U.S. senator and then vice president under Trump 's predecessor Obama , will inherit a nation in turmoil over the coronavirus pandemic and the related economic slowdown as well as protests against racism and police brutality .
Mr. Biden has said his first priority will be developing a plan to contain and recover from the pandemic , promising to improve access to testing and , unlike Trump , to heed the advice of leading public health officials and scientists .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Biden faces a huge challenge remedying the economic hardship caused by the pandemic .
Some 10 million Americans thrown out of work during coronavirus lockdowns remain idled , and federal relief programs have expired .
Despite his victory , Mr. Biden will have failed to deliver the sweeping repudiation to Mr. Trump that Democrats had hoped for , reflecting the deep support the president still retains .
This could complicate Mr. Biden 's campaign promises to reverse key parts of Mr. Trump 's legacy .
These include deep Trump tax cuts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , hardline immigration policies , efforts to dismantle the 2010 Obamacare healthcare law , and Mr. Trump 's abandonment of such international agreements as the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal .
Should Republicans keep control of the U.S. Senate , they would likely block large parts of Mr. Biden ’ s legislative agenda , including expanding healthcare and fighting climate change .
That prospect could depend on the outcome of four undecided Senate races , including two in Georgia that will not be resolved until runoffs in January .
Reporting by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mason ; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Detroit , Michigan ; Mimi Dwyer in Phoenix , Arizona ; Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia , Nathan Layne in Mifflintown , Pennsylvania , Jan Wolfe in Boston and Doina Chiacu , Alexandra Alper , Raphael Satter , Makini Brice , Aram Roston , Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan in Washington ; Writing by Sonya Hepinstall and John Whitesides ; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis .

Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

President-elect Joe Biden declared it was “time to heal” a deeply divided America in his first speech after prevailing on Saturday in a bitter election, even as President Donald Trump refused to concede.
“The people of this nation have spoken. They have delivered us a clear victory, a convincing victory,” Mr. Biden told honking and cheering supporters in a parking lot in his home town of Wilmington, Delaware, on Saturday night.
The Democrat’s victory in the battleground state of Pennsylvania put him over the threshold of 270 Electoral College votes he needed to clinch the presidency, ending four days of nail-biting suspense.
Mr. Biden pledged that as president he would seek to unify the country and “marshal the forces of decency” to battle the coronavirus pandemic, rebuild economic prosperity, secure healthcare for American families, and root out systemic racism.
Mr. Biden addressed the 70 million Americans who cast ballots in support of Trump, some of whom took to the streets on Saturday to demonstrate against the results.
“For all those of you who voted for President Trump, I understand the disappointment tonight. I’ve lost a couple times myself. But now, let’s give each other a chance. It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again,” he said.
“This is the time to heal in America.”
He also thanked Black voters, saying that even at his campaign’s lowest moments the African American community had stood up for him. “They always have my back, and I’ll have yours,” he said.
Mr. Biden was introduced by his running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, who will be the first woman, the first Black American, and the first American of Asian descent to serve as vice president.
“What a testament it is to Joe’s character that he had the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exists in our country, and select a woman as his vice president,” Ms. Harris said.
Congratulations poured in from abroad, including from conservative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, making it hard for Mr. Trump to push his repeated claims, without evidence, that the election was rigged against him.
Trump, who was golfing when the major television networks projected his rival had won, immediately accused Mr. Biden of “rushing to falsely pose as the winner.”
“This election is far from over,” he said in a statement.
Mr. Trump has filed a raft of lawsuits to challenge the results, but elections officials in states across the country say there has been no evidence of significant fraud, and legal experts say Mr. Trump’s efforts are unlikely to succeed.
Prior to the election, Mr. Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost, and he falsely declared victory long before counting was complete.
For Mr. Biden’s supporters, it was fitting that Pennsylvania ensured his victory. He was born in the industrial city of Scranton in the state’s northeast and, touting his middle-class credentials, secured the Democratic nomination with a promise to win back working-class voters who had supported Mr. Trump in 2016.
He launched his campaign in Pittsburgh last year and wrapped it up with a rally there on Tuesday. It was a tight race in industrial states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, but Mr. Biden did enough to prevail.
Mr. Biden’s victory was driven by strong support from groups including women, African Americans, white voters with college degrees, and city-dwellers. He beat Mr. Trump by more than four million votes in the nationwide popular vote count.
Mr. Biden, who has spent half a century in public life as a U.S. senator and then vice president under Mr. Trump’s predecessor Obama, will inherit a nation in turmoil over the coronavirus pandemic and the related economic slowdown as well as protests against racism and police brutality.
Mr. Biden has said his first priority will be developing a plan to contain and recover from the pandemic, promising to improve access to testing and, unlike Trump, to heed the advice of leading public health officials and scientists.
In addition to taming the health crisis, Mr. Biden faces a huge challenge remedying the economic hardship caused by the pandemic. Some 10 million Americans thrown out of work during coronavirus lockdowns remain idled, and federal relief programs have expired.
Despite his victory, Mr. Biden will have failed to deliver the sweeping repudiation to Mr. Trump that Democrats had hoped for, reflecting the deep support the president still retains.
This could complicate Mr. Biden’s campaign promises to reverse key parts of Mr. Trump’s legacy. These include deep Trump tax cuts that especially benefited corporations and the wealthy, hardline immigration policies, efforts to dismantle the 2010 Obamacare healthcare law, and Mr. Trump’s abandonment of such international agreements as the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal.
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Should Republicans keep control of the U.S. Senate, they would likely block large parts of Mr. Biden’s legislative agenda, including expanding healthcare and fighting climate change. That prospect could depend on the outcome of four undecided Senate races, including two in Georgia that will not be resolved until runoffs in January.
This story was reported by Reuters. Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Detroit, Michigan; Mimi Dwyer in Phoenix, Arizona; Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia; Nathan Layne in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania; Jan Wolfe in Boston; and Doina Chiacu, Alexandra Alper, Raphael Satter, Makini Brice, Aram Roston, Susan Cornwell, and Richard Cowan in Washington.


csmonitor--2020-11-07--Elation and anger: Catharsis in the streets as election ends

As soon as the news buzzed on their phones , Americans gathered spontaneously on street corners and front lawns – honking their horns , banging pots and pans , starting impromptu dance parties – as a vitriolic election and exhausting four-day wait for results came to an end Saturday morning .
And for all that joy , there was equal parts anger and mistrust on the other side .
Across the United States , the dramatic conclusion of the 2020 election was cathartic .
Just after The Associated Press and other news organizations declared that former Vice President Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Atlanta .
In Maine , a band playing at a farmers ’ market broke into the Battle Hymn of the Republic .
People waved Biden signs from car windows and balconies , and a massive pro-Biden crowd gathered in the streets outside the White House .
In New York City , some stopped their cars wherever they happened to be , got out and danced in the streets .
Car horns and bells echoed through neighborhoods across Puerto Rico .
In Kansas City , Biden supporters swayed in a park to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Gang .
Mr. Trump ’ s supporters have for days been protesting outside of ballot-counting operations , alleging without evidence that the slow-moving results were proof of cheating .
“ This isn ’ t over !
This isn ’ t over !
Fake news !
” some shouted Saturday as about 1,000 gathered at the Georgia State Capitol after news organizations ’ decision to call the election .
Frank Dobbs of Henderson , Nevada , brought a bullhorn and a Trump 2020 flag that he wrestled with in a stiff wind during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of voters office in North Las Vegas .
“ It ’ s not over until it ’ s over .
There ’ s still the courts .
If ever there ’ s ever a time to expose widespread fraud , this is the president to do it , ” Dobbs said .
“ The media doesn ’ t decide who wins the presidency .
The legal voters of this country decide.
” But across America , it was mostly the Democrats taking to the streets in jubilant displays , celebrating what was to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ constant crises , chaos and anxiety .
The nation paused , too , to reflect on electing its first woman vice president , Kamala Harris .
Amid a celebration in Berkeley , California , where Harris spent much of her childhood , Mayor Jesse Arreguin said the liberal city ’ s diversity and progressive values helped shape Harris into a “ leader that stands for equality , empowerment and justice.
” The news for some collided with the constant churn of crises the country has faced – the coronavirus pandemic that has killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recession that accompanied it , gun violence and police killings that have forced a national reckoning on racism .
“ America can exhale .
Decency , civility and democracy won , ” said Fred Guttenberg , who became an outspoken opponent of the president after his 14-year-old daughter Jaime was one of 17 slain by a gunman at Florida ’ s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018 .
He had been sitting in front of his television since waking up Saturday , waiting for the news .
He said it made him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ponugoti visited the memorial at the street corner where George Floyd died , saying it was important to be at the Floyd memorial to mark Mr. Biden ’ s win .
“ It ’ s like a reminder of the problems that still exist in our society .
Just because Biden is president doesn ’ t mean that all these systemic issues are fixed.
” For many , Nov. 7 at 11:25 a.m. , became a moment of such historic magnitude that they say they will forever remember what they were doing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend activities .
Retired teacher and school principal Kay Nicholas , was vacuuming in her home northwest of Detroit when she heard Mr. Biden had been declared the winner .
“ All I could say is ‘ thank God , ’ ” she said , choking up .
“ It has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican .
It has to do with decency .
This country has got integrity and hopefully we can get decency .
I think Joe Biden can do it and bring back kindness.
” Some Republican elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves from Mr. Trump and urge him to accept the outcome gracefully .
The utter rejection of Mr. Biden as the legitimate president by Mr. Trump and many of his supporters appears to represent something new in American political history , said Barbara Perry , presidential studies director at the University of Virginia 's Miller Center .
“ We typically haven ’ t had a leader who loses the presidency who then tells his followers , ` This is false .
This has been stolen from us , ' ” Perry said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ so mad they didn ’ t go to the inauguration , but not like this , where they are leading those people to say this is fraudulent.
” A couple of thousand Trump supporters gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg .
Pennsylvania played a crucial role in Mr. Biden 's victory .
“ If we don ’ t stop this today , it ’ ll all be over , ” Bruce Fields said of news organizations declaring Mr. Biden the winner .
“ Otherwise we can kiss freedom goodbye.
” About two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camouflage , joined the rally .
At the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix , a crowd swelled to more than 1,000 within hours .
Mr. Biden won Arizona on his way to victory in the Electoral College .
“ It ’ s very suspicious that President Trump , with the red wave we ’ ve been seeing in Arizona , is struggling , ” Kelli Ward , former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party , told boisterous pro-Trump demonstrators .
“ I want to know if there is any discrepancy with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
In Lansing , Michigan , about 50 Trump supporters and a smaller group of marchers carrying Black Lives Matter flags converged on the state Capitol , where they pushed , shoved and shouted at one another in a tense standoff .
But within moments of the race being called , a few from both sides broke into prayer , and at least one pair hugged .
Anita Snow , David Goldman , Lisa Marie Pane , and other Associated Press writers contributed to this article .

As soon as the news buzzed on their phones, Americans gathered spontaneously on street corners and front lawns – honking their horns, banging pots and pans, starting impromptu dance parties – as a vitriolic election and exhausting four-day wait for results came to an end Saturday morning. And for all that joy, there was equal parts anger and mistrust on the other side.
Across the United States, the dramatic conclusion of the 2020 election was cathartic. Just after The Associated Press and other news organizations declared that former Vice President Joe Biden beat President Donald Trump, fireworks erupted in Atlanta. In Maine, a band playing at a farmers’ market broke into the Battle Hymn of the Republic.
People waved Biden signs from car windows and balconies, and a massive pro-Biden crowd gathered in the streets outside the White House. In New York City, some stopped their cars wherever they happened to be, got out and danced in the streets. Car horns and bells echoed through neighborhoods across Puerto Rico. In Kansas City, Biden supporters swayed in a park to the song “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang.
Mr. Trump’s supporters have for days been protesting outside of ballot-counting operations, alleging without evidence that the slow-moving results were proof of cheating. “This isn’t over! This isn’t over! Fake news!” some shouted Saturday as about 1,000 gathered at the Georgia State Capitol after news organizations’ decision to call the election.
Frank Dobbs of Henderson, Nevada, brought a bullhorn and a Trump 2020 flag that he wrestled with in a stiff wind during a rally outside the Clark County registrar of voters office in North Las Vegas.
“It’s not over until it’s over. There’s still the courts. If ever there’s ever a time to expose widespread fraud, this is the president to do it,” Dobbs said. “The media doesn’t decide who wins the presidency. The legal voters of this country decide.”
But across America, it was mostly the Democrats taking to the streets in jubilant displays, celebrating what was to them an end to four years of constant crises, chaos, and anxiety.
The nation paused, too, to reflect on electing its first woman vice president, Kamala Harris. Amid a celebration in Berkeley, California, where Ms. Harris spent much of her childhood, Mayor Jesse Arreguin said the liberal city’s diversity and progressive values helped shape Ms. Harris into a “leader that stands for equality, empowerment and justice.”
The news for some collided with the constant churn of crises the country has faced – the coronavirus pandemic that has killed more than 236,000 Americans, the economic recession that accompanied it, gun violence and police killings that have forced a national reckoning on racism.
“America can exhale. Decency, civility and democracy won,” said Fred Guttenberg, who became an outspoken opponent of the president after his 14-year-old daughter Jaime was one of 17 slain by a gunman at Florida’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. He had been sitting in front of his television since waking up Saturday, waiting for the news. He said it made him “ecstatic.”
In Minneapolis, Pardha Ponugoti visited the memorial at the street corner where George Floyd died, saying it was important to be at the Floyd memorial to mark Mr. Biden’s win. “It’s like a reminder of the problems that still exist in our society. Just because Biden is president doesn’t mean that all these systemic issues are fixed.”
For many, Nov. 7 at 11:25 a.m., became a moment of such historic magnitude that they say they will forever remember what they were doing, even those engaged in the most mundane weekend activities.
Retired teacher and school principal Kay Nicholas, was vacuuming in her home northwest of Detroit when she heard Mr. Biden had been declared the winner.
“All I could say is ‘thank God,’” she said, choking up. “It has nothing to do with Democrat or Republican. It has to do with decency. This country has got integrity and hopefully we can get decency. I think Joe Biden can do it and bring back kindness.”
Some Republican elected officials around the country began to distance themselves from Mr. Trump and urge him to accept the outcome gracefully.
The utter rejection of Mr. Biden as the legitimate president by Mr. Trump and many of his supporters appears to represent something new in American political history, said Barbara Perry, presidential studies director at the University of Virginia's Miller Center.
“We typically haven’t had a leader who loses the presidency who then tells his followers, `This is false. This has been stolen from us,'” Perry said. "Incumbent presidents have been mad, so mad they didn’t go to the inauguration, but not like this, where they are leading those people to say this is fraudulent.”
A couple of thousand Trump supporters gathered at the Pennsylvania Capitol in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania played a crucial role in Mr. Biden's victory.
“If we don’t stop this today, it’ll all be over,” Bruce Fields said of news organizations declaring Mr. Biden the winner. “Otherwise we can kiss freedom goodbye.”
About two dozen heavily armed men, some wearing camouflage, joined the rally.
At the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix, a crowd swelled to more than 1,000 within hours. Mr. Biden won Arizona on his way to victory in the Electoral College.
“It’s very suspicious that President Trump, with the red wave we’ve been seeing in Arizona, is struggling,” Kelli Ward, former state senator and chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, told boisterous pro-Trump demonstrators. “I want to know if there is any discrepancy with the numbers coming out of the machines."
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In Lansing, Michigan, about 50 Trump supporters and a smaller group of marchers carrying Black Lives Matter flags converged on the state Capitol, where they pushed, shoved and shouted at one another in a tense standoff. But within moments of the race being called, a few from both sides broke into prayer, and at least one pair hugged.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. Anita Snow, David Goldman, Lisa Marie Pane, and other Associated Press writers contributed to this article.


csmonitor--2020-11-08--Americans vote down racist symbols in five states

Alabama voters reversed themselves from a few years ago and removed racist vestiges of segregation from the state constitution that courts long ago ruled unconstitutional .
Rhode Island did a similar a U-turn to eradicate the word “ plantations ” from the state ’ s official name .
In a year when discussions of racial justice have dominated U.S. society like few others , five states voted to cleanse the public sphere of words , phrases and symbols that to many were painful reminders of the nation 's history of slavery and the systematic oppression of Black people .
Brendan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the University of Rhode Island , believes the decisions were linked to the revulsion and widespread protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May .
“ In many ways this has sparked a national conversation on race , and I think we ’ ve seen a lot of people who are more willing to take concrete steps to address racism than they were in the past , ” Mark said .
In addition to the votes in Alabama and Rhode Island , residents of Utah and Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provisions that allowed slavery as a punishment for criminal convictions .
And Mississippi voters approved a state flag without the familiar X-shaped design of the Confederate battle flag .
The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed , said Stacy Moak , who teaches in the social work department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham .
“ Affirmative votes for these changes shows a willingness on the part of Americans to provide for a more inclusive community .
These changes , by themselves , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signs of progress in the right direction , ” she said in an interview conducted by email .
The Alabama measure begins the process of removing Jim Crow language from the 1901 Constitution that was intended to entrench white supremacy .
Voters in the mostly white , conservative state had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000 .
Courts had previously struck down the legality of the segregationist provisions that were enshrined in the document long ago , but the language banning mixed-race marriage , allowing poll taxes and mandating school segregation remained .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Montgomery , was among the roughly 67 % of voters who supported scrapping those sections .
`` It just doesn ’ t make any sense nowadays , ” said Crowell , 63 .
Yet another statewide vote will be required to approve the revisions after legislators consider a draft in 2022 .
In neighboring Mississippi , about 71 % of voters approved a new state flag featuring a magnolia and the words “ In God We Trust ” to replace the Confederate-themed flag that state legislators voted to retire in June after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing .
Mississippi voters also eliminated an 1890s provision that aimed to ensure white control of the state by requiring majorities of both the popular vote and the 122 state House districts to win statewide office .
Now , only a popular vote majority is required .
To the west , Utah and Nebraska approved provisions similar to Alabama 's to delete constitutional language allowing slavery as a possible punishment in criminal cases .
The measures , which passed by 81 % in Utah and 68 % in Nebraska , got relatively little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fact that states even placed the measures on ballots shows that protests and the national discussion on racism are having an impact , said Deirdre Cooper Owens , director of the humanities in medicine program at the University of Nebraska .
“ Symbolism matters , and so does language , ” she said by email .
The vote was closest in Rhode Island , once a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade , where about 53 % of voters supported the proposal to strip the words “ and Providence Plantations ” from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 1790 .
A similar measure failed in 2010 .
Like elsewhere in the country , Rhode Island has seen protests over Floyd 's death , and in racially diverse Providence , a truth commission was established to consider the state 's historic ties to slavery , land seizures , systemic racism and possible reparations .
“ This ballot initiative is part of a broader shift in Rhode Island to reconcile with the past , '' said Mark , the political scientist .
“ I think this is a unique moment in history.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ symbols or wiping away reminders of injustices of long ago .
In California , where voters were asked to reconsider a more contemporary race-related issue , they balked .
The liberal-minded state rejected a proposition that would have repealed a 1996 initiative prohibiting affirmative action programs in public employment , education or contracting .
Supporters said the measure lost for several reasons , including a lack of time to persuade voters during a busy election year .

Alabama voters reversed themselves from a few years ago and removed racist vestiges of segregation from the state constitution that courts long ago ruled unconstitutional. Rhode Island did a similar a U-turn to eradicate the word “plantations” from the state’s official name.
In a year when discussions of racial justice have dominated United States society like few others, five states voted to cleanse the public sphere of words, phrases, and symbols that to many were painful reminders of the nation's history of slavery and the systematic oppression of Black people.
Brendan Skip Mark, who teaches political science at the University of Rhode Island, believes the decisions were linked to the revulsion and widespread protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May.
“In many ways this has sparked a national conversation on race, and I think we’ve seen a lot of people who are more willing to take concrete steps to address racism than they were in the past,” Mr. Mark said.
In addition to the votes in Alabama and Rhode Island, residents of Utah and Nebraska decided to strip their constitutions of unenforceable provisions that allowed slavery as a punishment for criminal convictions. And Mississippi voters approved a state flag without the familiar X-shaped design of the Confederate battle flag.
The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed, said Stacy Moak, who teaches in the social work department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“Affirmative votes for these changes shows a willingness on the part of Americans to provide for a more inclusive community. These changes, by themselves, are not enough – but they are encouraging signs of progress in the right direction,” she said in an interview conducted by email.
The Alabama measure begins the process of removing Jim Crow language from the 1901 Constitution that was intended to entrench white supremacy. Voters in the mostly white, conservative state had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000.
Courts had previously struck down the legality of the segregationist provisions that were enshrined in the document long ago, but the language banning mixed-race marriage, allowing poll taxes, and mandating school segregation remained.
Glenn Crowell, a Black Republican from Montgomery, was among the roughly 67% of voters who supported scrapping those sections.
"It just doesn’t make any sense nowadays,” said Mr. Crowell. Yet another statewide vote will be required to approve the revisions after legislators consider a draft in 2022.
In neighboring Mississippi, about 71% of voters approved a new state flag featuring a magnolia and the words “In God We Trust” to replace the Confederate-themed flag that state legislators voted to retire in June after the nation erupted in demonstrations following Mr. Floyd's killing.
Mississippi voters also eliminated an 1890s provision that aimed to ensure white control of the state by requiring majorities of both the popular vote and the 122 state House districts to win statewide office. Now, only a popular vote majority is required.
To the west, Utah and Nebraska approved provisions similar to Alabama's to delete constitutional language allowing slavery as a possible punishment in criminal cases.
The measures, which passed by 81% in Utah and 68% in Nebraska, got relatively little attention before the vote.
But the fact that states even placed the measures on ballots shows that protests and the national discussion on racism are having an impact, said Deirdre Cooper Owens, director of the humanities in medicine program at the University of Nebraska.
“Symbolism matters, and so does language,” she said by email.
The vote was closest in Rhode Island, once a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, where about 53% of voters supported the proposal to strip the words “and Providence Plantations” from the state's formal name, first adopted in 1790. A similar measure failed in 2010.
Like elsewhere in the country, Rhode Island has seen protests over Mr. Floyd's death, and in racially diverse Providence, a truth commission was established to consider the state's historic ties to slavery, land seizures, systemic racism, and possible reparations.
“This ballot initiative is part of a broader shift in Rhode Island to reconcile with the past," said Mr. Mark, the political scientist. “I think this is a unique moment in history.”
All those ballot measures involved changing symbols or wiping away reminders of injustices of long ago. In California, where voters were asked to reconsider a more contemporary race-related issue, they balked.
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The liberal-minded state rejected a proposition that would have repealed a 1996 initiative prohibiting affirmative action programs in public employment, education or contracting. Supporters said the measure lost for several reasons, including a lack of time to persuade voters during a busy election year.
This story was reported by The Associated Press.


csmonitor--2020-11-08--Alex Trebek: Who is the beloved host of Jeopardy?

Alex Trebek , who presided over the beloved quiz show “ Jeopardy !
” for more than 35 years with dapper charm and a touch of schoolmaster strictness , died Sunday .
He was 80 .
Messages of condolences and respect from former contestants , celebrities , and the wider public quickly followed news of his passing .
“ Alex wasn ’ t just the best ever at what he did .
He was also a lovely and deeply decent man , and I ’ m grateful for every minute I got to spend with him , ” tweeted “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Thinking today about his family and his Jeopardy !
family — which , in a way , included millions of us.
” “ It was one of the great privileges of my life to spend time with this courageous man while he fought the battle of his life .
You will never be replaced in our hearts , Alex , ” James Holzhauer , another “ Jeopardy !
” star , posted on Twitter .
John Legend tweeted that he was “ obsessed with Jeopardy as a nerdy kid growing up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ revered Alex Trebek since I can remember .
What an iconic career.
” “ We have lost an icon .
Almost every night for more than three decades , Alex Trebek entertained and educated millions around the world , instilling in so many of us a love for trivia .
My deepest condolences to his family , friends , and all who are mourning this tremendous loss , ” wrote Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter .
“ Jeopardy ! ''
bills itself as “ America ’ s favorite quiz show '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ format in which contestants were told the answers and had to provide the questions on a variety of subjects , including movies , politics , history and popular culture .
They would answer by saying “ What is ... ?
” or “ Who is ... .
?
” The Canadian-born Trebek , who became its host in 1984 , was a master of the format , engaging in friendly banter with contestants , appearing genuinely pleased when they answered correctly and , at the same time , moving the game along in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for answers .
He never pretended to know the answers himself if he really didn ’ t , deferring to the show ’ s experts to decide whether a somewhat vague answer had come close enough to be counted as correct .
“ I try not to take myself too seriously , ” he told an interviewer in 2004 .
“ I don ’ t want to come off as a pompous ass and indicate that I know everything when I don ’ t. ” The New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik @ @ @ @ @ @ @ courtly formalities that are increasingly scarce in TV today .
The “ Shall we ?
” at the outset of a match .
The little wince when someone would fumble a Double Jeopardy question .
His Picard-like cool was his appeal , in an environment of emotive syndicated Kirks .
When he delivered one of his trademark careful pronunciations — “ Comintern , ” “ Argentina ” — it seemed not showy but respectful .
It was the spirit of “ Jeopardy !
” to care about getting things right . ''
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , wife of the late talk show host-entrepreneur Merv Griffin , who said she suggested to him one day that he create a game show where people were given the answers .
“ Jeopardy !
” debuted on NBC in 1964 with Art Fleming as emcee and was an immediate hit .
It lasted until 1975 , then was revived in syndication with Trebek .
Long identified by a full head of hair and trim mustache ( though in 2001 he startled viewers by shaving his mustache , “ completely on a whim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified for the job , having started his game show career on “ Reach for the Top ” in his native country .
Moving to the U.S. in 1973 , he appeared on “ The Wizard of Odds , ” “ High Rollers , ” “ The $ 128,000 Question ” and “ Double Dare.
” Even during his run on “ Jeopardy !
” , Trebek worked on other shows .
In the early 1990s , he was the host of three — “ Jeopardy !
” , “ To Tell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Jeopardy !
” made him famous .
He won five Emmys as its host , including one last June , and received stars on both the Hollywood and Canadian walks of fame .
In 2012 , the show won a prestigious Peabody Award .
He taped his daily “ Jeopardy !
” shows at a frenetic pace , recording as many as 10 episodes ( two weeks ’ worth ) in just two days .
By 2008 , the show had yet to bring in a substitute host for Trebek — save @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fortune ” host Pat Sajak swapped their TV jobs as an April ’ s Fool prank .
In 2012 , Trebek acknowledged that he was considering retirement , but had been urged by friends to stay on so he could reach 30 years on the show .
He still loved the job , he declared : “ What ’ s not to love ?
You have the security of a familiar environment , a familiar format , but you have the excitement of new clues and new contestants on every program .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Although many viewers considered him one of the key reasons for the show ’ s success , Trebek himself insisted he was only there to keep things moving .
“ I ’ m introduced as the host of 'Jeopardy ! '
, not the star , ” he said in a 2012 interview .
“ My job is to provide the atmosphere and assistance to the contestants to get them to perform at their very best , ” he explained .
“ And if I ’ m successful doing that , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the audience will think of me as being a bit of a star . ''
“ But not if I try to steal the limelight !
The stars of ` Jeopardy !
′ are the material and the contestants , ” he said .
In a January 2019 interview with The Associated Press , Trebek discussed his decision to keep going with “ Jeopardy !
” “ It ’ s not as if I ’ m overworked — we tape 46 days a year , ” he said .
But he acknowledged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lost his edge or the job was no longer fun , adding : “ And it ’ s still fun.
” Trebek , who made a point of informing fans about his health directly , spoke in a calm , even tone as he revealed his illness and hope for a cure in a video posted March 6 , 2019 .
But Trebek said he intended to fight it and keep working , even joking that he needed to beat the disease because his “ Jeopardy !
” contract ran for three more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he opened the show with a message acknowledging the outpouring of kind words and prayers he ’ d received .
“ Thanks to the — believe it or not — hundreds of thousands of people who have sent in tweets , texts , emails , cards and letters wishing me well , ” Trebek said .
“ I ’ m a lucky guy.
” Born July 22 , 1940 , in Sudbury , Ontario , Canada , Trebek was sent off to boarding school by his Ukrainian father and French-Canadian mother when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After graduating high school , he spent a summer in Cincinnati to be close to a girlfriend , then returned to Canada to attend college .
After earning a philosophy degree from the University of Ottawa , he went to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Co. , starting as a staff announcer and eventually becoming a radio and TV reporter .
He became a U.S. citizen in 1997 .
Trebek ’ s first marriage , to Elaine Callei , ended in divorce .
In 1990 , he married Jean Currivan , and they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trebek lived with his family in Los Angeles ’ Studio City section , not far from Hollywood .
Trebek is survived by his wife , their two children and his stepdaughter , Nicky .
The late AP entertainment correspondent Bob Thomas contributed to this report

Alex Trebek, who presided over the beloved quiz show “Jeopardy!” for more than 35 years with dapper charm and a touch of schoolmaster strictness, died Sunday. He was 80.
Messages of condolences and respect from former contestants, celebrities, and the wider public quickly followed news of his passing.
“Alex wasn’t just the best ever at what he did. He was also a lovely and deeply decent man, and I’m grateful for every minute I got to spend with him,” tweeted “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings. “Thinking today about his family and his Jeopardy! family – which, in a way, included millions of us.”
“It was one of the great privileges of my life to spend time with this courageous man while he fought the battle of his life. You will never be replaced in our hearts, Alex,” James Holzhauer, another “Jeopardy!” star, posted on Twitter.
John Legend tweeted that he was “obsessed with Jeopardy as a nerdy kid growing up in Ohio. I’ve loved and revered Alex Trebek since I can remember. What an iconic career.”
“We have lost an icon. Almost every night for more than three decades, Alex Trebek entertained and educated millions around the world, instilling in so many of us a love for trivia. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all who are mourning this tremendous loss,” wrote Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Twitter.
“Jeopardy!” bills itself as “America’s favorite quiz show” and captivated the public with a unique format in which contestants were told the answers and had to provide the questions on a variety of subjects, including movies, politics, history, and popular culture.
They would answer by saying “What is ... ?” or “Who is .... ?”
The Canadian-born Mr. Trebek, who became its host in 1984, was a master of the format, engaging in friendly banter with contestants, appearing genuinely pleased when they answered correctly and, at the same time, moving the game along in a brisk no-nonsense fashion whenever people struggled for answers.
He never pretended to know the answers himself if he really didn’t, deferring to the show’s experts to decide whether a somewhat vague answer had come close enough to be counted as correct.
“I try not to take myself too seriously,” he told an interviewer in 2004. “I don’t want to come off as a pompous ass and indicate that I know everything when I don’t.”
The New York Times TV critic James Poniewozik wrote of Mr. Trebek:
“He had courtly formalities that are increasingly scarce in TV today. The “Shall we?” at the outset of a match. The little wince when someone would fumble a Double Jeopardy question. His Picard-like cool was his appeal, in an environment of emotive syndicated Kirks. When he delivered one of his trademark careful pronunciations – “Comintern,” “Argentina” – it seemed not showy but respectful. It was the spirit of “Jeopardy!” to care about getting things right.”
The show was the brainstorm of Julann Griffin, wife of the late talk show host-entrepreneur Merv Griffin, who said she suggested to him one day that he create a game show where people were given the answers.
“Jeopardy!” debuted on NBC in 1964 with Art Fleming as emcee and was an immediate hit. It lasted until 1975, then was revived in syndication with Mr. Trebek.
Long identified by a full head of hair and trim mustache (though in 2001 he startled viewers by shaving his mustache, “completely on a whim”), Mr. Trebek was more than qualified for the job, having started his game show career on “Reach for the Top” in his native country.
Moving to the United States in 1973, he appeared on “The Wizard of Odds,” “High Rollers,” “The $128,000 Question,” and “Double Dare.” Even during his run on “Jeopardy!”, Mr. Trebek worked on other shows. In the early 1990s, he was the host of three – “Jeopardy!”, “To Tell the Truth,” and “Classic Concentration.”
“Jeopardy!” made him famous. He won five Emmys as its host, including one last June, and received stars on both the Hollywood and Canadian walks of fame. In 2012, the show won a prestigious Peabody Award.
He taped his daily “Jeopardy!” shows at a frenetic pace, recording as many as 10 episodes (two weeks’ worth) in just two days.
By 2008, the show had yet to bring in a substitute host for Mr. Trebek – save once, when he and “Wheel of Fortune” host Pat Sajak swapped their TV jobs as an April’s Fool prank.
In 2012, Mr. Trebek acknowledged that he was considering retirement, but had been urged by friends to stay on so he could reach 30 years on the show. He still loved the job, he declared: “What’s not to love? You have the security of a familiar environment, a familiar format, but you have the excitement of new clues and new contestants on every program. You can’t beat that!”
Although many viewers considered him one of the key reasons for the show’s success, Mr. Trebek himself insisted he was only there to keep things moving.
“I’m introduced as the host of ‘Jeopardy!’, not the star,” he said in a 2012 interview. “My job is to provide the atmosphere and assistance to the contestants to get them to perform at their very best,” he explained. “And if I’m successful doing that, I will be perceived as a nice guy and the audience will think of me as being a bit of a star.”
“But not if I try to steal the limelight! The stars of `Jeopardy!′ are the material and the contestants,” he said.
In a January 2019 interview with The Associated Press, Mr. Trebek discussed his decision to keep going with “Jeopardy!”
“It’s not as if I’m overworked – we tape 46 days a year,” he said. But he acknowledged he would retire someday, if he lost his edge or the job was no longer fun, adding: “And it’s still fun.”
Mr. Trebek, who made a point of informing fans about his health directly, spoke in a calm, even tone as he revealed his illness and hope for a cure in a video posted March 6, 2019. But Mr. Trebek said he intended to fight it and keep working, even joking that he needed to beat the disease because his “Jeopardy!” contract ran for three more years. Less than a week later, he opened the show with a message acknowledging the outpouring of kind words and prayers he’d received.
“Thanks to the – believe it or not – hundreds of thousands of people who have sent in tweets, texts, emails, cards, and letters wishing me well,” Mr. Trebek said. “I’m a lucky guy.”
Born July 22, 1940, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, Mr. Trebek was sent off to boarding school by his Ukrainian father and French-Canadian mother when he was barely in his teens.
After graduating high school, he spent a summer in Cincinnati to be close to a girlfriend, then returned to Canada to attend college. After earning a philosophy degree from the University of Ottawa, he went to work for the Canadian Broadcasting Co., starting as a staff announcer and eventually becoming a radio and TV reporter.
He became a U.S. citizen in 1997. Mr. Trebek’s first marriage, to Elaine Callei, ended in divorce. In 1990, he married Jean Currivan, and they had two children, Emily and Matthew. Mr. Trebek lived with his family in Los Angeles’ Studio City section, not far from Hollywood.
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Mr. Trebek is survived by his wife, their two children, and his stepdaughter, Nicky.
This story was reported by The Associated Press. The late AP entertainment correspondent Bob Thomas contributed to this report.