By Lamin Njie, US Elections 2020 virtual reporting tour participant
Gambians online have found themselves trapped in the spectacle that is the 2020 United States presidential elections.
Americans on Tuesday Nov. 3 voted for their candidate of choice for president of their country but the whole world appears to have stopped over the unprecedented event.
In The Gambia, Gambians stayed up to treat themselves to the democratic process, peppering their Facebook timelines with their thoughts. Gambia is the smallest nation on mainland Africa with a population of less than two million people.
US-based Ebrima Baldeh was left astonished: “#The U.S elections adrenaline kicks in; tell me which other nation electrifies the whole world like this one?
“#From Mumbai, to Kingston, Africa, Europe, Australia, Asia and the Arab world?”
To which, Lamin Jatta, reacted: “Only in America. Many people all over the world did not have proper sleep since last night.”
Most Gambians online however seem to be Joe Biden sympathizers – and want the 77-year-old to win the election.
A top US opinion polls expert described Tuesday’s vote as ‘good news’ in that a lot of Americans went out to vote.
“It was good news, lots of lots of lots of Americans voted. They exercised their right. We said 150 million but we could have many more when all is said and done and that is indeed good news,” John Zogby who’s the founder of Zogby Strategies told foreign reporters on Wednesday.
“On the other hand, what is supposed to come from elections is clarity and also acceptance of results. And obviously we can’t do anything about the lack of clarity, that is how people voted.
“But we can do something about the acceptance of results and it’s very troubling that at least one side and I might add possibly two sides driven by their own intense supporters might say ‘I’m not ready to accept the results of this election’,” he said.
