‘This is a good start’: Biden fans express their delight
▶ Supporters make a journey to the White House ‘ to participate in history’
Just a few moments after it became apparent that Joe Biden was on his way to win the crucial states of Pennsylvania and Georgia, some of his supporters decided to stop by what will probably be his future home, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Of course, in a city such as Washington where 95 per cent of registered voters chose Mr Biden, finding Democratic supporters is not too difficult.
In fact, hundreds gathered on election night, hoping for a huge victory that never materialised.
Instead, they witnessed Mr Biden gain in key states over several days while mail-in ballots were being counted. “It’s almost over,” said Reylan Maxwell, a flight attendant from Utah who lost her job because of Covid-19.
Ms Maxwell is no fan of President Donald Trump, and did not mince words about her hopes for a future Biden administration.
“It will take some time to earn our respect back,” she said, holding a sign that read “pack your bags” and wearing an American flag as a cape. “We still have a lot of work to do but this is a good start.”
Ms Maxwell, like other demonstrators, had praise for former Georgia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, who many credit for helping the Democratic voter turnout operation which propelled Mr Biden’s chances of winning the state.
“Her work isn’t done,” Ms Maxwell said.
“Maybe she [Stacey Abrams] will have a job in the Biden White House.”
Across the street from the demonstrators, Reverend Wendy Hamilton was smiling and appeared to be taking in the atmosphere.
“It’s jubilation, relief, excitement and exhaustion,” Rev Hamilton said, reflecting on her demeanour while glancing at the White House.
“It’s all those emotions that brought me out here today because sitting at home watching everything over the past few days was getting frustrating, and when you live in Washington, you have the opportunity to participate in history like this.”
Rev Hamilton said once she saw Georgia tilting towards Mr Biden, she knew she had to walk to the White House.
“I just wanted to be with some collective energy to celebrate,” she said.
As for the incumbent, Ms Hamilton spoke about his “baseless” claims that the mail- in ballots were fraudulent as well as his efforts to try to challenge the election results.
“He just looked defeated and he wasn’t prepared for that,” she said, alluding to Mr Trump’s mercurial speech on Thursday in which he insisted that he won the election.
“I’m a minister and a counsellor,” she said.
“And when I saw that it looked like the first stage of grief for Trump – denial.”
She said she thought Mr Trump looked and sounded shocked.
“Hopefully he’ll go through the grief process and arrive at acceptance, and he’ll do that in a non-violent way.”
Also in the early- morning crowd was Leah Klock, who brought a simple sign that read, “You’re Fired. Out of the White House”.
When asked about Mr Trump’s plan to challenge the election results, Ms Klock’s thoughts were succinct and blunt. “I mean if you take candy away from a toddler, they cry – it’s not different,” she said. “I just think we’re ready to be done with four years of Trump, we’re ready to sleep easy.”
Standing near by was a man with a sign that read “the nightmare is over”.
“I think the election is going to get called in the next few moments and wanted to be a part of it,” he said, explaining why he came to the White House on Friday morning.
“We’re going to have a leader who unites us.”
Even though Mr Biden has won both the popular and electoral college vote, the Trump campaign has made it clear that it will try every legal challenge it can to fight the results.
There’s also the fact that behind Mr Biden, Mr Trump received the second-most votes of any presidential candidate in US history and his supporters show no sign of deserting him or his style of politics.
As for other Democrats in and around Washington, it seems they are ready to go the long haul in what appears to be a battle for public opinion.
Later on Friday, hundreds of demonstrators carrying “count every vote” signs walked through the streets of Washington, ending their journey at the White House by chanting, “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA”.
Left-leaning groups popped up in Washington, New York and other cities since Tuesday, reacting quickly to Trump’s wishes that the mail-in ballots not be counted.
Conversely, as the vote counting continued, Trump supporters showed up in states such as Michigan and Georgia, pushing for the vote counting to stop.
Those who supported Mr Biden and long waited for the day when he would be at the threshold of victory basked in the moment, despite the backdrop of potential legal challenges and obstinance from Mr Trump.
Some of Mr Biden’s supporters stopped by what will probably be his future home, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue