our north american correspondent nick bryant joins us. ve any indication of when joe biden might be speaking to the america people? might do it tonight and will tell us how the campaign is feeling. nick: we have not gotten the timings of that. but ibe hav speaking to confidet making any attempt to conceal their confidence. you are talking about winning georgia. bill clinton was the last democrat to win georgia in 1992. a believe they stand a chance in texas. you have to go back6 to 1d the victory of jimmy carter for the last democrat that one texas -- that won texas. they think joe biden is the man for this c moment, aid has helped him, the coronavirus. awas allowed to keep from the campaign trail. you and i saw joe biden on the campaign trail in iowa and new hampshire, he was a frail candidate, he was not anntrong front . he came forth in iowa and fifth in new hampshire covid has helped his campaign and has helped emphasize the differences between the two candidat. the biting campaign would see it as the empathy of joe biden against the e

but first, here's nick bryant's report on the democratic candidate, joe biden.s tried to make the road to the white house as safe a journey as possible, holding drive—in rallies where mask wearing is compulsory. whether or not you observe the covid protocols has become a marker of your politics. this guy, trump, has destroyed everything. he is a vile, nasty human being. he can't be the president. i want someone who my daughter can look up to. we need a return to normalcy, we need to decency in the white house, and we need somebody who knows how to get things done. this has been such a surreal presidential election, one in which the method of campaigning has actually become a campaign issue in itself. hello, philadelphia! joe biden has tried to turn this into the coronavirus election, a referendum on donald trump's handling of a viral onslaught that has killed more than 230,000 americans. to beat the virus, we've first got to beat donald trump! cheering. he's the virus. but it's not just the health of america he is seeking to rehabilitate. he says he is trying to

our north america correspondent nick bryant is in wilmington, delaware, mr biden‘s home town. o you. president—elect biden is preparing to ta ke president—elect biden is preparing to take power, stating that on the first day of his presidency, he will send a letter to the united nations indicating that america will rejoin the paris climate change agreement, a substantive and highly symbolic move which would underscore how the united states is under new management. now, there are a few blea ry management. now, there are a few bleary eyes management. now, there are a few blea ry eyes in management. now, there are a few bleary eyes in delaware today, not just because of the sleeplessness of the past few days, but because last night they got to throw a party. cheering. for democrats across america, a night both of celebration and catharsis. joy borne of the certainty thatjoe biden will become the occupant of the white house, relief that donald trump will soon have to make his exit. the coronavirus turned this into a drive—in victory party, social distancing temporarily cast aside,

several battleground states have yet to declare, so let's join our north america correspondent nick bryantrters in wilmington, delaware. nick, what did you make of the tone and content of mr biden‘s address a short while ago? it was a conventionally presidential style speech from the man who now believes he is going to be the next president. the tone so starkly different from donald trump's comments at the white house last night, and that was precisely the point. it's been a point ofjoe biden‘s candidacy throughout this to present himself as the anti—trump. he has set out his case and won more votes nationally than donald trump. that is true but irrelevant in the us electoral system. he has won more votes tha n us electoral system. he has won more votes than any other presidential candidate in us history, also true but again irrelevant, but crucially he now believes he has the votes where it matters. wisconsin, michigan, arizona and nevada, the four states that will get him to that magical number of 270. joe biden is surrounded by veterans of the florida recount, and one reason they believ

nick bryant, bbc news, delaware. nomia iqbal is in wilmington, delaware.30,000 coronavirus cases here in the us yesterday. how has the president—elect planned on tackling that even before he's inaugurated in january? that even before he's inaugurated in january? yes, laura, mr biden is making coronavirus his number one priority. that was one of the key messages that he campaigned on, and tomorrow, we are going to hear about a task force that he's setting up, and this task force will have more than two dozen scientists and technology experts and they will be working together to try and come up with a safe vaccine that they can deliver to the american people at some point. as you mentioned there, the numberof some point. as you mentioned there, the number of cases have been going up. it's reaching that grim number of 10 million cases, recorded cases. mr biden has always taken the pandemic very seriously, we saw that during his campaign, very scaled—back campaign. he had very few people around him, always wearing a mask. so that will be his priority come mond

nick bryant, thank you.rrespondent aleem maqbool has been speaking to people in wisconsin — one of the most fiercely contested states — to find out how the bitter battle has affected the public mood. even in quaint suburban america right now, in these fractious times, it's them and us. but there are those trying to come together. when tim had his biden sign stolen, his trump—supporting neighbour, josh, surprised him with a replacement. i knowjosh is a member of the republican party, and so, you know, for him to come and do something like that was pretty outstanding. so, in the course of our conversation, i realised thatjosh is, you know, a regular person first and a republican second. but the situation nationally is causing tension. i think people's wicks are just a little bit shorter than they used to be. i think people are afraid. they're afraid of what the economy looks like, they're afraid of the unknown, and so that fear becomes anger. even outside the white house on election night, we saw radical eleme

nick bryant, thank you.the votes have been working day and night since tuesday, and they're still going. the gap between donald trump and joe biden may be growing, but the race in the remaining battleground states is still incredibly close. reeta chakrabarti is here with the electoral map to show us where the presidency will be decided. sophie, this is the electoral map as it stands, the states and great other ones where we don't yet have a result, but a very close indeed in georgia, where they are going to have a recount, very close in arizona. in four of these states, joe biden has the lead. i want to ta ke joe biden has the lead. i want to take you over to pennsylvania here on the east coast, 20 electoral couege on the east coast, 20 electoral college votes, very, very important. you can see a razor—thin margin between the two candidates, butjust a few moments agojoe biden had a lead of 12,390 votes there, and that has been the trend of the day, with joe biden edging ahead of donald trump, and the democra

nick bryant, bbc news, philadelphia. in scranton, pennsylvania for us. just hours to go now — but so many people have already cast their votes! we have a fascinating situation, donald trump is hurtling around the country, he started in miami, north carolina, and he is coming to pennsylvania and then off to wisconsin, back to mitch again and then back to washington. 2500 miles by the end of the day. and the chump campaign belief if you get thousands of people turning up at these rallies, there is a risk that it might lead to an uptick in coronavirus cases, but if it motivates more people to go out and vote and that these people encourage their friends to vote and that these people encourage theirfriends to go vote and that these people encourage their friends to go and vote, then donald trump might be able to defy the polls just as he did donald trump might be able to defy the pollsjust as he did in 2016. the polls are against him at the moment, but they're not so darn that he thinks he is out. there is still in his mind

nick bryant, bbc news, pennsylvania. today began in miami. it was elevenses in north carolina.ears in our great white house. and then north and lunchtime in scranton, pennsylvania. a state that will be critical in this election. from here, he will go on to michigan, wisconsin, back to michigan and finally washington. 2500 miles travelled in one day alone. i don't know how many people are here but there's a lot of people here. cheering. and it is windy as hell and it's cold and i couldn't care. look at that flag, look at that flag, so beautiful. if this election was solely about energy and the size of your audience and the creation of a new breed of dog, the labradonald, the president would have it wrapped up. his supporters think it is. is he going to win? you bet. four more years. it is going to happen, there's too many people out all over the united states, it's crazy, and i'm from new york. i drove three hours in the cold. there is cold eyed calculation from the trump campaign in holding these rallies. yes, it might lead to an uptick in coronavirus cases. there is no social

nick bryant, bbc news. nomia iqbal is in wilmington, delaware.ouncement c expect what kind of an announcement can we expect from the president—elect on coronavirus tomorrow? yes, joe biden is hitting the ground running. coronavirus is the big issue that he campaigned on, that he said he would show leadership on. and he's already announced that he will put together announced that he will put together a task force on monday. this task force will be made up of more than a dozen people, scientists, technology experts who will work together to try and find a vaccine which they can deliver safely to americans at some point. you know, joe biden has emphasised throughout his campaign that he will listen to the scientists, that he will take on their advice and offer that contrast, he says, to donald trump and the way donald trump has handled the pandemic. it's not long, is at? 70 days to start planning for your first day in office. this transitional committee that he will now form, what is theirjob and what are their priorities? yes, joe biden has got a l

nick bryant, bbc news, philadelphia.nnsylvania — and that's one of the states that will be under the closest focus tomorrow night. it's a so—called swing state where the republican and democrat parties are finely balanced — although joe biden does appear to have an edge in the polling there. it was won by donald trump in 2016, but byjust 1.2 percentage points over hillary clinton. the state accounts for 20 votes in the electoral college — only california, new york, texas and florida have more. its two big cities — philadephia and pittsburgh — tend to vote heavily for the democrats, but its large rural vote leans strongly towards the republicans. it's part of america's rust belt — where the decline of heavy industry and mining proved to be fertile ground for donald trump four years ago. both candidates know how important this state is, and both are campaigning there today. in a moment we'll hear from president trump — but first here's joe biden. it is time to unite this country. on the one hand, we are facing the biggest

nick bryant, bbc news, philadelphia. he is good at that dance.llage people, as we had on last week. the early vote in this election now accounts for 70% of the total turnout in 2016. it's huge. and yet both sides know these final few hours could decide which way it goes. in the midwest, in 2016 donald trump won three states by less than 80,000 votes. in the six swing states that will decide the outcome this year, joe biden is leading in all except north carolina — but in some it has tightened. remember, that polls always factor in a margin of error — one or 2%, depending on the sample size — and if you look back at 2016, donald trump beat the polls by 2.8% across the board. so could he defy all predictions this time? we're joined by charlie gerow republican strategist — in pennsylvania. charlie, it is lovely to see you. so those who were paying attention in 2016 would have noticed the intervention of the fbi director james comey. they would have seen the polls narrowing in the last 2a, 48 hours the polls narrowing in the last 24, 48 hours before

let's check in with our north america correspondent nick bryant — who's in wilmington, delaware.irage of a vote for don't want that reminded of some people in 2016 and i was speaking to someone people in 2016 and i was speaking to someone he what a freak out moment in 2016 and were looking at the data coming from all over the country and just knew they had lost. by contrast, the biden campaign was looking at the data at the time and they were hitting their mats, hitting their targets, that is what gave them their confidence and the confidence was born, as well, of having so many different routes to the white house. they would have loved the joyride, the white house. they would have loved thejoyride, cassie, that the white house. they would have loved the joyride, cassie, that went through texas. they would have liked to have done the scenic route through the sunshine state of florida. they didn't think they are going to win florida with they knew it would end up another spell, they knew that arizona and nevada would be crucial and they were so confident they have got nevada and t

nick bryant, bbc news, pennsylvania. today began in miami. it was elevenses in north carolina.his state and we are going win four more years in our great white house. and then north and lunchtime in scranton, pennsylvania. a state that will be critical in this election. from here, he will go on to michigan, wisconsin, back to michigan and finally washington. 2500 miles travelled in one day alone. i don't know how many people are here but there's a lot of people here. cheering. and it is windy as hell and it's cold and i couldn't care. look at that flag, look at that flag, so beautiful. if this election was solely about energy and the size of your audience and the creation of a new breed of dog, the labradonald, the president would have it wrapped up. his supporters think it is. is he going to win? you bet. four more years. it is going to happen, there's too many people out all over the united states, it's crazy, and i'm from new york. i drove three hours in the cold. there is cold eyed calculation from the trump campaign in holding these rallies. yes, it might lead to an uptick

our north america correspondent nick bryant reports now from wilmington, delaware, mr biden‘s home townross america, a night both of celebration and catharsis. joy borne of the certainty that joe biden will become the occupant of the white house. relief that donald trump will soon have to make his exit. the coronavirus turned this into a drive—in victory party, a multiracial and multi—generational gathering that looked like a tableau of modern day america. kamala harris. the night began with a historic first. never before has a woman become vice—president—elect, or a person of colour. kamala harris, joe biden‘s running mate, has achieved both. while i may be the first woman in this office, i will not be the last. because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities. the president—elect of the united states of america, joe biden. cheering. after nearly 50 years in public life, no wonderjoe biden was in a rush to reach the stage. and he did so wearing what has become his trademark face mask — a piece of cloth that has become a political symbol, in a coun

let's get the latest from thejoe biden camp, and our north america correspondent nick bryant is at hisard joe biden. he was sounding very presidential last night, nick. what is the mood now? well, the message from the biden camp is, keep calm and carry on the count. because they believe that soon, it will show thatjoe biden is going to be the next president. they have got this leading nevada which has increased. there has been a tightening in the polls in arizona, which caused a lot of anxiety among democrats overnight, but they are saying, look at las vegas, a democratic city, still a lot of votes to come from there. they have got very bullish about pennsylvania. donald trump had a lead there on election night of 500,000 votes, but as there is mail—in ballots have come in, that lead has narrowed to just over 115,000 votes. philadelphia, a lot of votes there to count. a democratic city. so they are very confident. on the subject of these lawsuits, they are saying they are frivolous political theatre, part of a misinformation campaign to try and cast doubt on the vote. they are still ve

, the world will get the first indications of america's choice. 0ur north america correspondent nick bryanthe biden camp in delaware, and hejoins us now. i've just been speaking to one of joe biden‘s most senior advisers and they are so confident, they are making no attempt to conceal their confidence, and they are talking about winning states like georgia, no democrat has won there since 1982, and they think they stand a chance in texas. jimmy carter was the last democrat to win texas in 1976. four years ago donald trump w011 1976. four years ago donald trump won by painting himself as the anti hillary clinton and the anti—0bama, and joe biden has become a natural anti donald trump and his campaign is sought to emphasise the difference, what they see as empathy against ego, civility against ceaseless confrontation, and his personal —— genial personality has helped, it is hard to make him a hate figure. and also his personal story of grief finds an echo in sorrowful times. they think they are going to win this covid election. nick, many thanks. so, let's recap briefly on the way a us presid

let's go tojoe biden's headquarters in delaware and nick bryant is there. e former vice president's camp? is joe hearing from the former vice president's camp? isjoe biden planning to address the nation tonight, whatever happens? this is what we... the original plan that joe biden would come and address his supporters, they are having a driving event here in delaware, in wilmington, his hometown. they haven't let the car is in we are stood in the middle of this massive empty car park right now. but that was the plan. but earlier todayjoe biden said he wouldn't be speaking unless he had something definitive to say, so we are not quite sure at the moment. we could have a very full car park of hundreds of cars waiting to see joe biden, that we don't know whether they will see him not. interesting what they are saying about florida. when i spoke to that super—confident biden adviser earlier in the evening it was interesting in the states that he was suggesting we look at florida wasn't one of them. they always thought that florida was a toss—up. they are not pin

the bbc‘s correspondent nick bryant puts that in context.ll of 2020. hospitalisations in the us are at the highest level since the start of the pandemic." anthony zurcher, dc. i'm interested to know how america calibrates its response to the pandemic with a president in the white house with a quite different view of theirs to the president elect to is coming in. it's a challenge but it's responsibility has always been under this administration fallen on the shoulders of state governors rather than directors from the president, and administration itself is that what you're seeing right now is state government fleet not governments and cuomo in new york starting to impose new restrictions on size of gatherings, how late in how crowded indoor restaurants and bars can be. in north dakota see health care workers are in such short supply there that they are going to start allowing health care workers to return to the job even if they had tested positive for coronavirus as long as they are asymptomatic. each governor is doing something a little dif

nick bryant, bbc news, delaware. nick on the president—elect.egin to be realised by a woman. kamala harris struggled when she ran to be the democratic party's pick for president, but later found a role as the found a role as the progressive counterweight tojoe biden's more establishment candidacy. joe biden and i are proud, patriotic americans who share the values with the vast majority of the american people, who want a president of the united states who speaks truth. she was born in california to immigrant parents ofjamaican and indian heritage. she was elected to the senate four years ago off the back of a successful career as a prosecutor. something that later damaged her support among some liberals, who thought she'd been too tough on african—american defendants. she graduated from this university, where her elevation to the nation's second—highest office is viewed as hugely symbolic. i have to admit, i'm still in a bit of shock about it. like, i'm thrilled, i wanted this to happen. i imagine she's going to take all the things that she lear

you've probably seen this clip already, my colleague nick bryant speaking to — or attempting to speakat all. it's not simple, there's two things going onjust not simple, there's two things going on just now. the arguments of a brexiter once we have talked about many times of four. issues in the talks as both sides are trying to solve but two things different at the moment, one is the changing geopolitical landscape so you've gone from having a president in the white house who was passionately pro brexit and promising the uk a free—trade deal to a president who is anti—brexit and sounds quite sceptical about the uk path explains to ensure trade within the uk after brexit. the other thing is time now really is of the essence. only until the 1st of january to a degree and ratify a deal. both sides are getting twitchy that the talks to been going on for so long and still have not come to an agreement. donald trump's defeat was announced while the president was playing golf — and when his campaign set up in a gardening firm's yard — just by a six shop and a crematorium. donald trump tweete

nick bryant, thank you so much. sufficient to the vatican if favourite for that man. barack obama memoirs are out. normally for my own experience and i've read so many of them, they are bone dull. they are just platitudes and diary events but i don't know if you had a chance to look at any of the extracts, what is it tell us about how we got to where we are today through his eyes?m you think we're talking about obstructionism at the moment. president trump refusing to recognise that joe president trump refusing to recognise thatjoe biden has one, in his new memoir, barack obama talks about how his election in 2008, how he feels that it really was his presence triggered eight deep seated panic amongst some americans that donald trump then exploited. and he is some ways gives donald trump credit for understanding that and then paddling the myth that barack obama was not even born in the us. so it is a very effective memoir and getting rave reviews for his purple prose. no surprise, he was a writer before. absolutely. shifting demographics here in the us, those played a

here is nick bryant with a profile of the president —— count.trifying smiles in us politics. joe biden has fulfilled his personal american dream. he is about to become the occu pa nt of dream. he is about to become the occupant of the white house. this former vice president was the candidate who offered softjazz after the heavy metal of the trump yea rs after the heavy metal of the trump years was that easy listening moderation. a presidency americans could have on in the background. eight years of donald trump could fundamentally change who we are in a significant way. never the most inspiring candidates but his geniality made him hard to demonise. a quick word for the bbc. geniality made him hard to demonise. a quick word for the bbci geniality made him hard to demonise. a quick word for the bbc. i am irish. joe biden. the white house has long been the target of his ambitions. his first presidential bid was 1987. he tried again in 2008 that ended up getting their second slot as vice president to barack 0bama. it gives the internet one last cha