US Election: What is the path to the White House?

Everything is hinging on a knife-edge. There have been talks of fraud, protests and as yet, no winner. It could still go either way, but Joe Biden is slowly inching forward. The counts are still going on in the key States with both candidates insisting they can take the election. But what exactly is the path to the White House?

Now that Michigan and Wisconsin have been projected for Biden, the national race is boiling down to Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and Pennsylvania.

As of Thursday at 9.30pm, it’s 253 electoral college votes to Biden and 214 to Trump, with the White House in their grasp if they reach 270.

For Biden

On Wednesday, Biden struck a conciliatory tone after taking Wisconsin, a battleground state that was key to President Trump’s victory four years ago.

“After a long night of counting, it’s clear that we’re winning enough states to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency,” Biden said.

“Once this election is finalised and behind us, it’ll be time for us to do what we’ve always done as Americans — to put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us,” he said. “To lower the temperature. To see each other again. To listen to one another.”

“Thank you all for your patience. We urge you to stay calm,” he said on Thursday. “We have no doubt we will be winners.”

The count could go on for several more days, but it does appear that Biden is inching forward.

Biden appears to have more routes to victory within the scope of the results to come. He enjoyed a massive momentum shift with wins in Wisconsin and Michigan last night, and Fox News and AP have predicted that he will take Arizona (he is ahead by mere inches but the count is still going on).  And if he wins Nevada and Arizona, it will get him to the magic 270.

But it won’t be without pushback from Trump who wants a recount in each of the key Swing States.

For Trump

Donald Trump must hold on to Pennsylvania and Georgia, where he holds a lead if he is to have a clear pathway to the White House.

Trump leads in Pennsylvania, which offers a valuable 20 electoral votes that he badly needs – but mail ballots (popular with Democratic voters could yet favour Biden.

Then he must claim Arizona or Nevada from Biden. Nevada is close, but it won’t be decided until later. He has to work harder but with 4 States.

Too close to call still, but all early signs still point to Biden.

Read more: US election: President Trump threatens legal action and protesters take to the streets as Biden inches closer to victory

Read more: US Election update: Crucial Wisconsin State goes to Biden

Read more: WATCH: Donald Trump claims victory and calls the election ‘a fraud’ on American public