NPR News Now - NPR News: 11-05-2024 7PM EST

Episode Date: November 6, 2024

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Enjoying the podcast so far? Get more from shows like this one with NPR+. For a simple recurring donation, you'll get perks from over 20 NPR podcasts, including sponsor-free listening, bonus episodes, early access, shop discounts, and more. Join us in making the world a more curious and well-informed place at plus. npr.org. Live from NPR News in Washington, I'm Jack Spear. Polls are closing at this hour in half a dozen states. NPR's Susan Davis joins me now. She's NPR's political correspondent and co-host of the NPR Politics podcast. Polls have closed in most of the swing state of Georgia.

Polls closing a bit later in three counties there to give voters extra time after some polling places experienced equipment problems and others got bogus bomb threats. So how important is a win in Georgia for Trump and Harris? I mean, a win here would be critical for both campaigns, but it's really seen as a must-win for Donald Trump. Georgia and its 16 electoral votes are part of a southern strategy and a sunbelt strategy where Donald Trump has been leading in the polls or stronger in the polls of states of Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona and Nevada.

However, a Kamala Harris win here, which is also possible, polling in the state was within the margin of error right up to election day. But a Democratic win here would suggest that the potential for a very strong Democratic night, again, Democrats are really focused on the Blue Wall strategy, Blue Wall or bust, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. A win in Georgia would loosen the pressure to have an absolute win in all three of those states and would expand the map possibilities for her to get to the 270 electoral vote she needs. Marc Thiessen And, you know, I've talked about this a little those states and would expand the map possibilities for her to get to the 270 electoral votes she needs.

And you and I have talked about this a little bit, the question a lot of people have tonight, when are we likely to know who has won in Georgia? It has the potential to be quick, but it could also be slow. Georgia counts the ballots faster than many states. However, if it's close, it's also likely to be one of the most contested states because of what's at stake here. It is possible that results in Georgia, a call could come as early as later this evening or early Wednesday morning. And we have a total of 60 electoral votes at stake here, Georgia 16, Indiana 11, Kentucky 8, South Carolina 9, Vermont 3, and Virginia 13. And we should mention at this hour that the Associated Press has made calls in a couple of races.

Kamala Harris in Vermont, not a huge surprise there, and Donald Trump in the states of Kentucky and Indiana. So no big surprises there, but it's going to be shaping up, I think, for a long night. NPR's Susan Davis, thanks for joining me. Meanwhile, Americans' mood on this election day will in one word dour. A large number of people surveyed in recent polls say they think the country is on the wrong track. Some conservatives see a culture that they believe

is too liberal and they view as threatening their way of life. Many on the left of the political spectrum believe the rights of marginalized people and democracy itself is under threat. At the same time, both sides are excited at the prospect of getting what they want. For some, it's the return of Trump. For others, it's to make history by electing

the nation's first female president. In the next hour, a batch of polls close in, including most polls in the critical swing state of Pennsylvania. That is a key election prize with its 19 electoral votes, polls in the District of Columbia, and 16 other states also closing next hour. You're listening to NPR. Palestinian officials say an Israeli airstrike in northern Gaza has claimed the lives of at least 20 people, primarily women and children. Latest deaths come as Israel continues its months-long air and ground operations against Hamas militants there. The latest strike hit

a home with several displaced families. Palestinians fleeing the area tell stories of having gone weeks with little or no food. Israel claims it was targeting a weapon storage facility that a militant was operating there. Officials in the battleground state of Georgia say turnout is strong and they've reported that few issues or lines at the polls. Secretary of State Brad Raffsenberger projects the total votes cast will exceed the number from the last presidential election. Stephanie Stokes with the number station WABE in Atlanta has more from voters at the polls. On the south side of Atlanta, Rumel Medina was smiling after he cast his ballot. He says he's feeling optimistic that Georgia will

repeat its recent history. President Biden narrowly won the state in 2020 and voters also chose two Democratic U.S. senators. I feel like we've kind of showed that we're willing to vote based on the actual interests of Georgians and the nation overall, so. Northwest of the city in suburban Cobb County, however, Mike Gore felt differently. He's still concerned about the outcome of the last election. He's hoping the state reverses course.

Yeah, we want to vote for a better life, and the one that they've carried for the last four years is not making it. Results from Georgia are expected to be complete by the end of the night. For NPR News, I'm Stephanie Stokes in Atlanta. Critical futures prices moved higher today likely due to possible disruption to output from an expected storm in the Gulf of Mexico. I'm Jack Spear, NPR News in Washington.