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US Election 2020: Biden overtakes Trump in Pennsylvania as Georgia heads for recount US Election 2020: Biden overtakes Trump in Pennsylvania as Georgia heads for recount
(32 minutes later)
The result of Tuesday's election hangs in the balanceThe result of Tuesday's election hangs in the balance
Democratic candidate Joe Biden has pulled ahead of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, a key state in the US presidential race, results data show.Democratic candidate Joe Biden has pulled ahead of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania, a key state in the US presidential race, results data show.
Mr Biden is leading by more than 19,500 votes, with 98% counted. If he takes the state, he will win the election.Mr Biden is leading by more than 19,500 votes, with 98% counted. If he takes the state, he will win the election.
Earlier, Mr Biden edged ahead of his Republican rival in Georgia, another key battleground state, where a recount will now be held.Earlier, Mr Biden edged ahead of his Republican rival in Georgia, another key battleground state, where a recount will now be held.
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign said: "This election is not over."Meanwhile, the Trump campaign said: "This election is not over."
Trump campaign lawyer Matt Morgan claimed without evidence that ballots in Georgia were "improperly harvested" and that in Pennsylvania election observers were not given "meaningful access" to counting. Trump campaign lawyer Matt Morgan claimed that ballots in Georgia were "improperly harvested", without presenting evidence.
Latest updates: Election hinges on swing statesLatest updates: Election hinges on swing states
US election results in maps and chartsUS election results in maps and charts
When will we know who has won?When will we know who has won?
In a statement later, Mr Trump said: "From the beginning we have said that all legal ballots must be counted and all illegal ballots should not be counted, yet we have met resistance to this basic principle by Democrats at every turn. In a statement later on Friday, Mr Trump said without providing evidence of any irregularity: "From the beginning we have said that all legal ballots must be counted and all illegal ballots should not be counted, yet we have met resistance to this basic principle by Democrats at every turn.
"We will pursue this process through every aspect of the law to guarantee that the American people have confidence in our government. I will never give up fighting for you and our nation.""We will pursue this process through every aspect of the law to guarantee that the American people have confidence in our government. I will never give up fighting for you and our nation."
A senior Trump administration official has told CBS News Mr Trump does not plan to concede in the event of a victory declaration by Mr Biden. "Happy day" for Nancy Pelosi, but Lindsey Graham says Trump should "fight hard"
There are reports from the Biden campaign in Delaware that he will address the nation on Friday evening local time. This is believed to be dependent on the race being called by then. Mr Biden is expected to address the nation from his campaign headquarters of Wilmington, Delaware, on Friday evening about his growing leads. His team is monitoring news networks to see whether they will declare him the winner.
What's the current state of the race?What's the current state of the race?
Mr Biden has 253 Electoral College votes, while Mr Trump has 214. To win the White House, a candidate needs 270.Mr Biden has 253 Electoral College votes, while Mr Trump has 214. To win the White House, a candidate needs 270.
Some news organisations have a higher tally for Mr Biden, having projected a win for the Democrat in Arizona. But the BBC considers the state too early to call.Some news organisations have a higher tally for Mr Biden, having projected a win for the Democrat in Arizona. But the BBC considers the state too early to call.
Pennsylvania, where Mr Biden was born, has 20 Electoral College votes. If the Democrat wins it, he will secure the victory with 273 votes. Pennsylvania, where Mr Biden was born, has 20 Electoral College votes. If the Democrat wins it, he would secure the victory with 273 votes.
"Each ballot must be counted": Joe Biden calls for patience with the election result
Election officials there said the count could take several days.Election officials there said the count could take several days.
Pennsylvania has always been a major political battleground. The state voted Democrat in six consecutive races before it swung to Mr Trump in 2016. Pennsylvania voted Democratic in six consecutive White House races before it swung to Mr Trump in 2016.
In Georgia, Mr Biden is currently leading with more than 1,500 votes, with 99% of the ballots counted. Georgia's secretary of state said there would be a recount because the margin was so small. In Georgia, Mr Biden is currently leading with more than 4,000 votes, with 99% of the ballots counted. Georgia's secretary of state said there would be a recount because the margin was so small.
Georgia is a traditionally Republican state and has not been won by a Democrat in a presidential race since 1992. Georgia (16 electoral votes) is a traditionally Republican state and has not been won by a Democrat in a presidential race since 1992.
Mr Biden leads by more than 22,000 votes in Nevada (six electoral votes) and by fewer than 40,000 in Arizona (11 electoral votes), while Mr Trump leads in North Carolina (15 electoral votes) by more than 76,000 ballots.
Mr Trump's team says legal challenges and recounts in some states will favour them.Mr Trump's team says legal challenges and recounts in some states will favour them.
Bob Bauer, a Biden campaign lawyer, says the lawsuits are legally "meritless".Bob Bauer, a Biden campaign lawyer, says the lawsuits are legally "meritless".
But on Thursday, a judge in Pennsylvania ruled that Republican election observers should be granted close-up observation of the counting.
Who is ahead in the states still counting?Who is ahead in the states still counting?
The vote is also currently too close to call in Nevada and North Carolina.
A win in just Pennsylvania, or two of the other four remaining states would be enough to confirm Mr Biden as president-elect.A win in just Pennsylvania, or two of the other four remaining states would be enough to confirm Mr Biden as president-elect.
Mr Trump would need to win Pennsylvania and three of the remaining four states.Mr Trump would need to win Pennsylvania and three of the remaining four states.
Here's the latest from the three other key states:
Mr Trump has cut the Mr Biden's lead in Arizona (11 electoral votes) to less than 40,000 votes, with 93% counted. The BBC's partner CBS News has categorised the state as a "likely" win for Mr Biden
Mr Trump had a lead of more than 76,000 in North Carolina (15 electoral votes), with 96% of ballots tallied
In Nevada (six electoral votes), Mr Biden has an edge of more than 20,000 votes, with 90% counted. An update on election results is expected shortly
It won't be long now.It won't be long now.
Overnight, Joe Biden pulled ahead of Donald Trump in Georgia. And with the latest batch of vote totals released, Biden has taken the lead over Trump in Pennsylvania.Overnight, Joe Biden pulled ahead of Donald Trump in Georgia. And with the latest batch of vote totals released, Biden has taken the lead over Trump in Pennsylvania.
Georgia's 16 electoral votes would be enough to guarantee at least a tie in the Electoral College, pending results from the other uncalled states. Pennsylvania would single-handedly deliver the White House to Biden.Georgia's 16 electoral votes would be enough to guarantee at least a tie in the Electoral College, pending results from the other uncalled states. Pennsylvania would single-handedly deliver the White House to Biden.
The trendlines in both states are clear, as well. Biden has been netting more votes with each new tally, and he's only going to extend his lead in both states. There are fewer ballots to count in Georgia, so the state is going to stay close - and the recount has already been announced.The trendlines in both states are clear, as well. Biden has been netting more votes with each new tally, and he's only going to extend his lead in both states. There are fewer ballots to count in Georgia, so the state is going to stay close - and the recount has already been announced.
By the time all is said and done, however, Biden should lead in Pennsylvania by more than Donald Trump won the state by in 2016.By the time all is said and done, however, Biden should lead in Pennsylvania by more than Donald Trump won the state by in 2016.
The drama from these last few days is the result of the process by which these states have counted their votes - tallying mailed-in ballots that have tilted heavily toward Biden after in-person ones, which have been in Trump's favour.The drama from these last few days is the result of the process by which these states have counted their votes - tallying mailed-in ballots that have tilted heavily toward Biden after in-person ones, which have been in Trump's favour.
If the process had been reversed, the picture on election night would have been much clearer from the start.If the process had been reversed, the picture on election night would have been much clearer from the start.
After the dust settles, the results are what they are. And in Delaware, Biden is probably smiling.After the dust settles, the results are what they are. And in Delaware, Biden is probably smiling.
What have the candidates said? What's the mood inside the White House?
On Thursday, Mr Trump said: "If you count the legal votes, I easily win. If you count the illegal votes they can try to steal the election from us." President Trump is angry and disappointed that more of his allies are not rallying to his side on television or in the streets, according to White House officials.  
He has been watching television, making phone calls to on-the-ground campaign offices, and dividing his time between the Oval Office and the residence.
Several aides did not show up for work on Friday and the White House was described as "very empty" with a sombre mood.
Trump's 17-minute speech fact-checkedTrump's 17-minute speech fact-checked
Tables turned as Trump voters start to worryTables turned as Trump voters start to worry
Beyond allegations of irregularities, the Trump campaign has not presented any evidence. The president has indicated to senior advisers that he will forge ahead with legal challenges to the results, although there is still no strategy for such litigation.
Trump's unsubstantiated voting fraud claims explained One senior outside adviser to the president described his mood on Friday as "somewhere between sullen and hopeful".
The president added: "We were winning in all the key locations, by a lot actually, and then our numbers started getting miraculously whittled away in secret.
"There's been a lot of shenanigans and we can't stand for that in our country."
Mr Trump actively discouraged his supporters from voting by mail, while Mr Biden urged his voters to do so, and it is these postal ballots that are now being tallied in the key states.
'All of a sudden Trump's losing? Come on''All of a sudden Trump's losing? Come on'
Analysts also say the president's claims of Democratic electoral corruption are undermined by the better-than-expected performance of his fellow Republicans in congressional races. He was pinning his hopes on military ballots coming from overseas turning the tide in the vote counts.
"Happy day" for Nancy Pelosi, but Lindsey Graham says Trump should "fight hard" The source said the president was "resigned" on Wednesday to the possibility of looming defeat, but on Thursday had a "new energy" and seemed optimistic that vote totals might go his way.
Utah Senator Mitt Romney on Friday joined a number of Republicans criticising Mr Trump's comments. "He is wrong to say that the election was rigged," Mr Romney tweeted. The source added that Mr Trump "was the last one to think he could win in 2016", despite his top aides telling him that he would.
Several US networks cut their feeds of Mr Trump's speech.
Meanwhile, Mr Biden appealed for calm and again expressed confidence he would be declared the winner.
"Democracy is sometimes messy," he said in a televised address. "It sometimes requires a little patience as well."
"Each ballot must be counted": Joe Biden calls for patience with the election result
"The process is working. The count is being completed. And we'll know very soon."
As results trickle in, protests involving both sides have been held in major cities over the vote counting.
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What has Trump said about your country?What has Trump said about your country?
What legal action has the president taken?
Mr Trump has filed a barrage of lawsuits alleging irregularities and lack of transparency.
The president demanded a recount in Wisconsin, as is the right of any candidate who comes within 1% of his rival in total vote there.
But Mr Biden was leading by 20,000 votes in Wisconsin, and election analysts say previous recounts in the state have usually only altered the final tally by a few hundred votes.
"What do you mean? They're still counting the votes": Newsnight's Emily Maitlis clashes with Republican Randi Reed
Trump campaign lawsuits filed in Michigan and Georgia were tossed out by state courts on Thursday.
But in Pennsylvania, the Trump campaign won a legal victory when a state appeals court judge said Republican poll-watchers should be permitted a closer look at ballot processing.
The Republican party in Nevada said it had sent a report to the US Department of Justice on what it alleged were "at least 3,062 instances of voter fraud". The party said thousands of individuals had been identified violating the law by casting ballots after moving out of the state.
Nevada's Attorney General Aaron Ford told the BBC this week that all the evidence showed that the state had conducted a "free, safe and secure election".
"The critical thing is to wait" A lawyer's view on calling the results"The critical thing is to wait" A lawyer's view on calling the results
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