By Rhina Guidos | CNS
WASHINGTON (CNS) — The U.S. remains uncertain about the winner of the presidential race after Election Day, as a counting of the vote continues, showing Democratic candidate Joe Biden ahead in electoral votes, but not by much.
By 3 p.m. Nov. 4, projected results from The Associated Press showed Biden ahead with 248 electoral votes compared to incumbent Republican President Donald Trump’s 214. To win, a candidate needs to reach 270.
Results in Nevada, expected to be updated Nov. 5, as well as in states rich in electoral votes such as Pennsylvania and Michigan, remained unsettled with millions of votes still being counted Nov. 4. But it didn’t stop Trump from declaring an early victory and making comments about getting the Supreme Court involved, prompting outcry from Republicans and Democrats.
“Frankly, we did win this election,” the president told supporters gathered at the White House at 2 a.m. Nov. 4, adding that “we’ll be going to the U.S. Supreme Court” and saying, “We want all voting to stop.”
But even supporters of the president and members of his party protested the comments. Mail-in votes postmarked by Election Day are accepted in several states and many are typically counted in the hours or days after the election, making it unclear what the president was referring to or what legal challenge he could possibly raise.
“All these votes have to be counted that are in now… Tonight was not the time to make this argument,” said Republican Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey, who has helped Trump with his campaign. “I disagree with what he did tonight.”
“Stop. Full stop. The votes will be counted and you will either win or lose. And America will accept that. Patience is a virtue,” Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois wrote on Twitter, referencing a tweet by the president that said, “We are up BIG, but they are trying to STEAL the Election. We will never let them do it. Votes cannot be cast after the Polls are closed!”
The Trump campaign said Nov. 4 that it would file lawsuits for recounts in Michigan and Wisconsin.