91成人导航

Amid the uncertainty of a pandemic, a struggling economy and a polarized electorate, many Americans are anxious for the Nov. 3 presidential election to bring clarity.

Don鈥檛 expect it to be that easy, CNN National Correspondent John King said in a virtual chat with 91成人导航ans on Sept. 2.

鈥淭he huge challenge this year is we are not going to know the winner on election night,鈥� King said. 鈥淎nd we may also have a situation where the president of the United States declares victory when it鈥檚 not clear that he鈥檚 actually the winner. In all but the rarest of occasions鈥擝ush versus Gore鈥攚e know the winner or are pretty sure about it on election night. With mail voting and other factors, that is not going to be the case.鈥�

King spoke as part of the 鈥�,鈥� sponsored by 91成人导航鈥檚 Department of Political Science in conjunction with President Chris Callahan鈥攁 former journalism colleague of King鈥檚. The session was moderated by Keith Smith, associate professor of political science.

King, who hosts the CNN show 鈥淚nside Politics,鈥� said Democrat Joe Biden is clearly favored against Republican incumbent Donald Trump, but there are many factors that could change in the remaining nine weeks.

鈥淭rump wants to run as an outsider and a disrupter, but that is hard to do when you live at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and you have been the president for almost four years,鈥� King said. 鈥淚 could give you a set of data that tells you Joe Biden is heavily favored to win the election. I can give you some data, less data, that tells you to be careful about that. Is Trump bating Biden on law and order to pull the conversation away from COVID-19? Do not underestimate Trump.鈥�

King is known for his detailed analysis鈥攕tate by state and even county by county鈥攊n analyzing returns on election night. He said CNN has developed software to enhance information for viewers.

CNN鈥檚 projections have Biden with 268 Electoral College votes, and 270 are needed for election, King said. But he emphasized the Trump campaign was 鈥渂rilliant鈥� in late strategy in 2016 and is capable of winning some key competitive states, including Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Biden鈥檚 age鈥�77鈥攁lso could be a negative for some voters, he added.

鈥淩ight now, we have Biden on the cusp of winning,鈥� King said. 鈥淏ut there is so much more that could happen in the remaining weeks.鈥�

King, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, has had a varied career. He has covered presidential elections, natural disasters, wars, the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack and has reported in all 50 states and more than 70 countries. He cherishes the memory of shaking the hand of Nelson Mandela at his inauguration in South Africa.

鈥淭he reason my job is fresh to me is because I have had different jobs in the same business. I was a print journalist, then I covered campaigns. I covered the White House for 10 years, and now I anchor programs.鈥�

He urged 91成人导航 students to be curious.

鈥淚f you want to succeed, you better work hard, and you had better be fair,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd I am in the curiosity business. I was a miserable failure at some things and a success at others. You learn and grow from your mistakes.鈥�

91成人导航 Talks Politics continues at 4 p.m. each Wednesday through Nov. 4. Upcoming speakers or topics include Judy Woodruff of the PBS News Hour (Sept. 23), National Voter Education Week (Oct. 7) and Kim Alexander of the California Voter Foundation (Oct. 21).