Biden climbs in key states as early ballots are counted

WASHINGTON

Democratic nominee Joe Biden continued to gain ground against US President Donald Trump in key states Wednesday as early votes in the presidential election continue to be tabulated.

Trump decried the ongoing state of play, fuming that a vague "they" are "finding Biden votes all over the place — in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan."

"They are working hard to make up 500,000 vote advantage in Pennsylvania disappear — ASAP. Likewise, Michigan and others!" he said on Twitter.

The trio of states listed are in the thick of counting mail-in ballots after their Republican-controlled legislatures did not change state laws to allow them to be processed early despite the anticipated unprecedented volume of absentee voting, which materialized.

Trump has long accused mail-in voting of being subject to fraud, warning people not to instead vote in-person.

While his claims were all but certain to fall on deaf ears among Democrats, they were likely heeded by his political supporters. Of the more than 37.5 million people who voted early by mail just over a quarter were sent by Republicans, according to the US Elections Project.

The disproportionate party makeup of mail-in ballots that several key states are now tabulating has led to Biden narrowing Trump's lead, and in the case of Michigan, taking it from the president.

Biden was already leading in Wisconsin early Wednesday, and that has continued to hold as votes are processed. The Trump campaign said it would seek a recount in the vital state.

In Michigan, Biden is ahead by just 0.6% and Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she expects to have unofficial results by the end of Wednesday, but cautioned it could drift into Thursday.

"Ballots are still be counted in our largest jurisdictions, including Detroit, Grand Rapids, Flint, Kalamazoo and numerous other Michigan cities and townships," she said. "These ballots were cast by tens of thousands of Michigan citizens who have the right to have their vote counted, and we're going to make sure that right is protected."

In Georgia, where the president's lead has shrunk considerably, the secretary of state there said 200,000 absentee ballots remain outstanding, in addition to 40,000 - 50,000 early votes that have yet to be counted.

Trump is holding the state by just 86,000 votes.

While Trump has prematurely claimed victory, he remains behind Biden in the race to secure at least 270 Electoral College votes. The race remains competitive, however, with Biden leading 238-213, according to The Associated Press.