DEBRA SAUNDERS BLOG: Trump closes in on victory, has early lead in Nevada

3:00 a.m. Eastern

Donald Trump took the stage before 2:30 a.m. Eastern and spoke for close to half an hour. The president-elect was flanked by family members and his campaign team.

As he did when he won the White House in 2016, Trump pledged to work to heal political divisions.

It was not your ordinary campaign acceptance speech. To our knowledge, Kamala Harris had not conceded.

The thing that makes a Trump speech unique, however, is his entourage. Las Vegas’ Dana White was there — and Trump invited him to speak. Trump also called out Elon Musk, Joe Rogan and Bobby Kennedy. It was like a modern-day conservative Rat Pack.

The End is Near

1:56 Eastern

Donald Trump seems poised to win the 2024 presidential election. The New York Times reports that Donald Trump has a 95 percent chance of winning after the establishment and the press didn’t see how he could win.

With the help of rural counties, Trump is winning Nevada, a state he lost in 2016 and 2020. CNN’s John King noted that many criticized Trump for running a base campaign, and not reaching out to independent voters, but as he looked at a map of the Silver State, King noted, the Trump approach worked.

And after all the prognostications about days of uncertainty that were bound to follow the nation’s vote, Americans will know who won the election in the morning when they wake up.

Senate GOP returns

12:41 a.m. Eastern

There’s more good news for Republicans: the GOP is poised to take the Senate, and perhaps even amass a comfortable majority.

“FINALLY,” Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., posted on X, “with a Republican Senate majority we can focus on controlling spending, limiting gov, and putting America 1st! Looking forward to a dedication to fiscal responsibility. Cheers to the Senate leading the charge for a streamlined government focused on the Constitution.”

I’m not sure that’s going to happen. But we can dream.

Harris “underperformed”

10:54 Eastern

I’m watching Fox News now and the panel repeatedly remarks about how Kamala Harris “underperformed.”

The New York Times reports that Donald Trump has an 87 percent chance of victory in the presidential race.

And Trump is winning Iowa.

Pollster Ann Selzer went out on a limb when she predicted Harris would beat Trump in Iowa — 47 percent to 44 percent — but as I write this, Trump is leading Iowa with 56 percent of the vote. She held to her guns, now she’ll have to examine why she so underperformed.

Trump team sent out the following statement:

“Congratulations to Donald J. Trump on tonight’s victory. After four years under Kamala Harris, Hawkeye state voters are eager for President Trump to fix what Kamala Harris broke. Starting on Day 1, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance will help to ease costs, secure the border, and protect Social Security for retirees like Ann Selzer.” — Trump Campaign Senior Deputy Political Director Alex Latcham

Tim Kaine, live from Virginia

8:51 Eastern

If you watched “Saturday Night Live” this weekend, you saw a very funny sketch — not the one with Kamala Harris and Maya Rudolph, but the skit with Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., playing himself.

Kaine was a kick, but as I watched, I kept wondering, how did this low-key Democrat and former Virginia governor whose re-election seemed assured rate real estate in the iconic late-night show?

The answer, it seems, is that Kaine’s re-election was not the blowout one might have expected. According to The Washington Post, Kaine raised $20.5 million to Cao’s $7.9 million.

AP reports that with 40 percent of the vote in, Kaine has 51.3 percent of the vote, to Cao’s 48.7 percent.

Cao is a Vietnamese immigrant and military veteran who has never been elected to a public office — and yet, as I write this, he is within 3 points of Kaine.

Team Kaine must be thinking: Phew. Who knows what could have happened if Cao had raised more money and garnered more press coverage?

Trump and Harris agree

8:03 Eastern

Both candidates are tweeting to their supporters to stay in line if they are at the polls.

Harris:

If you are in line before the polls close, stay in line. It is your right to make your voice heard. If you have any trouble casting your ballot, call our Voter Assistance Hotline: 833-336-8683.

Trump:

Wisconsin – 1 More Hour!

Polls are open until 8:00 PM local.

If you are in line by the cutoff they must let you vote.

GO NOW and STAY IN LINE!

Georgia independents for Trump?

7:29 Eastern

According to CNN’s exit poll, Georgia independents favor Donald Trump over Kamala Harris. Experts warn against putting too much faith in early exit polls, so the question is, is this finding a fluke or a trend?

To see more, go to

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/2024-election-trump-harris/index.html

Trump already questioning election

6:33 Eastern

Trump posted on Truth Social:

“A lot of talk about massive CHEATING in Philadelphia. Law Enforcement coming!!!”

If only Trump had been president and directed his administration to push for clean elections and expose fraud.

Oh, wait. He was president. And he did create a panel. And then the panel disbanded, because he didn’t really care about election integrity.

Who’s ahead? Dissatisfied

5:42 Eastern

NBC News released data that found three-quarters of voters feel the country is headed in the wrong direction — you can see it here: www.nbcnews.com/politics/rcna178602

According to the poll, 43 percent say they’re dissatisfied and 29 percent are saying they’re angry. If “dissatisfied” had qualified for the ballot, “dissatisfied” could have won.

Where’s KJP?

5:08 Eastern

The White House has released Wednesday’s schedule. For the third day in a row this week, there will be no daily briefing — usually led by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre — at the White House. This reminds me of the final days of Donald Trump’s time in the White House, after he lost in 2020 and public activity faded away.

Lock ‘em up? Harris: No comment

4:30 p.m. Eastern

Over the weekend, Kamala Harris refused to say how she voted on Proposition 36, a California ballot measure that targets retail theft and would increase sentences for repeat offenders.

How does someone who brags that she was a tough prosecutor not take a stand on a criminal-justice measure in her home state?

It’s what she does.

In 2014, Harris would not endorse or oppose a similar measure, Proposition 47. Obviously the veep has figured out that the best way to get elected is to not tell voters what she believes.

Where’s Joe?

According to White House pooler Steven Nelson of the New York Post, Joe Biden will not be attending any events tonight.

“We have an early travel/photo lid on Election Day, indicating that President Biden does not intend to participate in public events.”

That means, no POTUS at his trusted No. 2’s side on election night. Tongues will wag.

Yes, it’s almost over

4 p.m. Eastern

I’ve received loads of emails because I voted for Donald Trump. Some objected to specific Trump policies, but most went after Trump’s character, which is a big, easy target. Some readers also attacked my character, because, they told me, only a horrible person would vote for the horrible Trump.

Folks, you’re like Puritans trying to pin scarlet letters on heretics.

That tactic didn’t work for Hillary Clinton, who dubbed Trump supporters “deplorables.” It made her look like a sore loser, and she became one.

So here’s a piece of advice: Instead of deciding that Trump voters are bad people, maybe you should try to figure out why they support him. Show some curiosity. Listen and learn.

Contact Review-Journal Washington columnist Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com. Follow @debrajsaunders on X.