Americans line up at a voting station in Washington D.C. on November 5. --Photo Ruoxue

Race for the White House produces a night of drama 

Washington D.C., USA: Voters turned out in droves on Tuesday to cast ballots at polling stations across the US capital, in one of the most hotly contested races for the White House as two dynamic party leaders fought for the country’s most prestigious position.
Alongside the presidential race, senators also battled for places, with campaigns across the country drawing to a close following weeks of rallying cries by fervent members of both the Republican and Democrat parties.  
In the early hours of November 5, parts of Washington were filled with US citizens all eager to have a say in the US presidential election.
Around midnight, the New York Times’ live update indicated that Donald Trump had taken a slight lead over Kamala Harris, but also warned that it could take days for officials to count all the votes, with the outcomes in seven state battlegrounds yet to be determined.
An Asian-American voter, James Ong, told visiting ASEAN reporters that he would vote for the Republicans.
“My decision is obviously based on the Republican Party’s policies, but if the results go the other way, I won’t be deeply disappointed,’’ he said.
A taxi driver, who declined to be named, said this year’s election had great significance for the American people, who hoped for more economic stability in the coming years.
“Of course, I’ll certainly go for one of them, but it’s kind of tough for me to reveal right now,’’ he said.
Throughout the night, supporters of the two parties gathered in bars to cheer the results and voice enthusiastic support for their preferred choices as they were announced in states across the country live on TV.
Presenters kept a close watch on the situation as the votes were counted and provided minute-by-minute updates as the counts mounted up and the results edged in favour of Donald Trump.
Police were on duty throughout the day to ensure smooth traffic flow, but there were no disruptions or congestion. The Vientiane Times is among the many media outlets on site that are keenly following developments, as part of the 2024 US-ASEAN Reporters Tour in Washington D.C.

By Bounfaeng Phaymanivong
(Latest Update November 7, 2024)