Arizona Count Center Closes as Armed Trump Fans Gather; Biden Keeps Lead

By Staff, Agencies

Late returns in Arizona are giving the Trump campaign a sliver of hope as a tightening race threatens to put the state back into play. An early call for the state for Joe Biden has not turned to be a leaning Biden among some pollsters.

The early loss of Arizona greatly narrowed US President Donald Trump's path to a second term, which is now most likely through the Supreme Court.

As his options narrowed to Nevada, Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, Trump pronounced on Twitter that he "hereby claims" victory in the undecided states as campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani announced the "national lawsuit".

It came as Biden inched to within six electoral votes of the presidency after winning Michigan and Minnesota, two key states to Trump's 2016 win.

Delivering a speech in Wilmington, Delaware on Wednesday afternoon, the former vice president celebrated receiving more votes than any presidential candidate in history and said he was “on path” to securing the White house. His campaign also said that they are ready for a legal battle with the president after he prematurely declared victory in the early hours of Wednesday, and baselessly claimed the process had fallen victim to unspecified “fraud”. 

Both campaigns are fundraising for potential court battles in key states, with Trump immediately demanding a recount in Wisconsin - even before Biden was declared the official winner.

Trump’s campaign has also announced a lawsuit in Michigan demanding the state “halt” vote counting and conduct a review of the ballots.