An armchair guide to the United States election

As the voting has started to choose the next President of America, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton seems to have a lead in preference polls among voters, especially females.

Clinton appeared to have multiple paths to triumph. If a wave develops for either candidate, it’s going to be most evident in the states where their opponent was favored.

The victor will inherit a nation angry and distrustful of leaders in Washington.

While opinion polls showed a close race, but tilting toward Clinton, major bookmakers and online exchanges were more confident of a Clinton victory.

On Tuesday, voters in New Hampshire, a key battleground state, will go to the polls to cast their votes for president.

“She is a big reason why we are more respected around the world today”, he said, adding that Hillary does not “complain, doesn’t buckle, juts like the American people”.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said at his penultimate rally before Tuesday’s election that his party will get the White House back. Still, a surge of white Republican voters combined with a drop in turnout among black Democrats could be enough to tilt OH and MI to Trump and put Pennsylvania in play.

Clinton is actively campaigning, and is increasingly becoming competitive in the “likely” Republican state of North Carolina, as well as the traditionally safe Republican states of Arizona, Georgia, and Missouri. “And people are hurt so badly”.

President Barack Obama campaigned hard for his one-time rival and hoped-for successor, calling Trump “uniquely unqualified”.

A record number of Americans – more than 46 million – have voted early by post or at polling stations.

Edison Research, which produces the exit polls, has 933 interviewers spread across the USA at targeted polling places for Election Day.

Clinton’s campaign said she would not be discussing the news Monday as she campaigns in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and MI.

Both candidates spent part of Election Day giving radio interview in states still up for grabs, after blitzing through the dozen or so remaining battlegrounds a day earlier.

Even before Tuesday, nearly 45 million people had cast ballots in advance for president.

“I watch the speeches of these people, and they say the sun will rise, the moon will set, all sorts of wonderful things will happen”. At an election rally at the Ohio State University in Columbus, a lady from the audience shouted to Obama “I love you”. But if neither Mr Trump nor Ms Clinton reaches the 270 mark, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives will decide the outcome – and we could end up with President Trump after all. If Clinton doesn’t get a winner’s call there by 9 p.m. or 10 p.m., it could be a positive sign for Trump.

Clinton’s campaign has dubbed North Carolina the “checkmate state” – if she wins here, then Trump’s likely route to victory is effectively blocked.

Both candidates will hold their end-of-campaign parties Tuesday night in midtown Manhattan.

But adopting some of Trump’s policy planks while rejecting his political style might not help much after an election driven by the candidates’ personalities.

“I couldn’t believe there are still almost half of the people here who want Trump”, said a former federal employee who claimed he would only vote for a “sensible candidate”.

On Monday, Clinton began to acknowledge the work she had ahead of her. The inquiry had sapped surging Clinton momentum at a crucial moment in the race and risked damaging Democrats running in down-ballot races.

Democrats were taking nothing for granted. “I’ll keep you in suspense”, he said at the last debate.

Clinton is banking on turnout from Obama’s young, diverse coalition of voters to carry her over the finish line. Take away the one electoral vote in ME (that’s now a toss up), and that gets Clinton to 274.

In Nevada, where more than three-fourths of expected ballots have been cast, Democrats also lead, 42 percent to 36 percent.