Fantastic jubilations erupted across the United States of America (USA) on Saturday moments after TV networks declared Joseph Robinette Biden the winner of the Tuesday presidential election.
Citizens cheered, danced, hugged, clapped and back slapped one another in a fitting climax to many hours of anxious wait for the result of one of the closest presidential elections in the country.
The celebration was particularly emotional in Philadelphia, the biggest city in Pennsylvania, the state where Biden was born and which sealed his Electoral College victory.
Some supporters broke down in tears outside the convention centre where votes were being counted.
World leaders soon followed up with congratulatory messages to the man who will be sworn in as the 46th president of his country.
Biden and wife, Jill, were all smiles at their Delaware residence as TV networks broke the news of his victory.
In his first reaction, the in-coming president said he was honoured to be elected.
He said: “America, I’m honoured that you have chosen me to lead our great country. The work ahead of us will be hard, but I promise you this: I will be a President for all Americans – whether you voted for me or not. I will keep the faith that you have placed in me.”
Democracy, he said, “beats deep in the heart of America.”
“With the campaign over, it’s time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation.
“It’s time for America to unite. And to heal. We are the United States of America. And there’s nothing we can’t do, if we do it together.”
He pledged to “keep the faith that you have placed in me.”
Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris, said: “This election is about so much more than Joe Biden or me.”
She is the first female vice president and the first black and Asian-American vice president in the history of the US.
She was caught on video on Saturday telling Biden on the phone: “We did it. We did it, Joe. You’re going to be the next president of the United States.”
She was all smiles during the telephone conversation.
News of the election result met President Donald Trump at his Virginia golf course.
But his campaign team issued a statement discrediting the election result.
“The simple fact is this election is far from over,” the statement said.
“Joe Biden has not been certified as the winner of any states, let alone any of the highly contested states headed for mandatory recounts, or states where our campaign has valid and legitimate legal challenges that could determine the ultimate victor. Legal votes decide who is president, not the news media.
“Beginning Monday, our campaign will start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.”
It added: “The American people are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots.
“This is the only way to ensure the public has full confidence in our election. It remains shocking that the Biden campaign refuses to agree with this basic principle and wants ballots counted even if they are fraudulent, manufactured, or cast by ineligible or deceased voters.
“Only a party engaged in wrongdoing would unlawfully keep observers out of the count room – and then fight in court to block their access.”
Trump’s supporters protested the election outcome with rallies of their own.
The election was called for Biden at 11.25 a.m. by television networks and the Associated Press as he passed a 30,000 lead in Pennsylvania.
The 20 Electoral College votes from the state pushed him over the line.
Later came the result from Nevada which also went in his favour.
By then, he had garnered 273 Electoral College votes; three more than the required number to become president elect.
He was also leading in Arizona and Georgia
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