US elections take a dramatic new turn

Descend and landing of the 707 Qatar Airways aircraft was smooth on Washington Dulles International Airport on 29 Saturday, and the climate was ever so pleasant upon landing. But I found on ground the political situation of the United States of America had taken sudden flight, with the banner headlines on every paper that screamed of FBI Director James Comey’s announcement, the previous day, that new Clinton-related e-mails had been found. The US presidential election has thus got reignited into an even more heated contest with both the campaigns put in first gear.  

There was no settling down time for me to prepare for the country exclusive media coverage of the US presidential election for which I had just landed. Events started unfolding with amazing speed. It still is since that date and has taken a dramatic new turn sufficiently to show Hilary Clinton’s lead having narrowed in the latest forecast.

The East West Centre’s unique US presidential country exclusive coverage and seminar programme granted for just seven journalists chosen of the 12 slots allocated from the world was scheduled to kick off from Charlotte. So from Washington DC, it was to Charlotte that I headed by coach, a nine-hour journey to join the Group to commence reportage of what is now being described to be a major, decisive event in America’s recent history that has commanded the attention of almost all in the world of what is also dubbed the most-intensely-fought US presidential ever. 

Charlotte, the county seat of Meklenburg County, is the largest city in the State of North Carolina and is clearly identified as a swing state in the US elections. The swing states are crucial in this election with the candidates going neck and neck in the polls. First on the list for meetings scheduled on the first day of the programme, on 1 November were Associate Professor of Political Science at Davidson College Susan L. Roberts who enlightened us on the history, ideology and realignment of American political parties and then the Associate Professor of Political Science and Director Centre for the advancement of faculty Excellence Queens University of Charlotte on the Bill of Rights and Democracy in the US.  The common view of the political analysts we spoke to said Democrats still have work to do to turn out registered democrats including African American voters

An interesting interaction with American university students on their views on the election was followed by a meeting with the Mayor of Charlotte Jennifer who came into the world spotlight recently on the police shooting incident in Charlotte. (A separate interview with her will be published in these columns.)

North Carolina – Crucial swing state

The high point of the day was to attend the rally in Charlotte early evening at the Arbour Glen Outreach Centre where Vice President Joe Biden addressed the gathering, and was expected to boost turnout for Clinton. Security was high.

Most analysts say Trump needs North Carolina in his column to 270 electoral votes.

Vice President Biden showed how crucial North Carolina win is for Clinton by saying, “We win in North Carolina, we win it all. We can’t take our eyes off the ball. Healthcare is on the ballot, national security is on the ballot.” A Clinton victory here would doom Trump’s chances, he said. 

“Can you imagine any President in the history of the United States of America getting up at 3:30 a.m. in the morning and tweeting…. vitriol,” he said. “A lot’s at stake. What we did in the last eight years from the economy to social policy to environmental policy, can be turned around,” he said, warning of how much a Republican victory can undo the two terms of work of Obama and himself.

Trump has jumped a seven-point lead over Clinton in North Carolina according to a WRAL news poll released on 2 October. The battle in North Carolina has been tight, but Trump seemed to be gaining ground.     

Loud blasts in auditorium 

As Biden was wrapping up his speech loud blasts were heard inside of the auditorium, very close to where our group of foreign journalists was standing. Biden asked “What was that?” One in the crowd said, “It’s the Speaker.” “I probably need to stop speaking,” he joked. 

The loud blasts were off the malfunctioning speakers. He wound up saying to work real hard to elect Clinton.

President Obama is expected in North Carolina on Friday (5 November) and Clinton was expected on Thursday (4). Trump led Clinton 51% to 44% in the poll. The survey was conducted after the FBI disclosed the discovery of another cache of e-mails potentially important to the investigation of Clinton’s e-mail practices. In WRAL poll release, three weeks ago Clinton led Trump 46% to 44%. 

An Elon University poll also released on 2 November but conducted before the news of the controversial e-mail reviews had Clinton and Trump in dead heat. Clinton had 42% and Trump had 41.2%, well within the margin of error.

The RealClearPolitics average of polls has the race statistically tied in North Carolina with Clinton 46.4% and Trump 45.7%.