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Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden says he’s “on track” to win the 2020 election, even though neither he nor President Donald Trump has won the requisite 270 Electoral College votes needed to clinch the race.
In an address to supporters early Wednesday morning, Biden sounded confident about his chances. “We feel good about where we are,” the former vice president boomed in Wilmington, Delaware. “We believe we’re on track to win this election.”
Biden also sounded optimistic about winning a close race in Pennsylvania, which is seen as a must-win state for both candidates. Although Trump is currently leading in that race, large cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have yet to count all of their in-person and mail-in ballots.
That’s perhaps why Biden seems cheery about his prospects of becoming the next president of the United States. “I’m optimistic about this outcome,” he said. “Keep the faith, guys, we’re going to win this.”
A call to “keep the faith” surely falls short of the victory speech he hoped to give on election night, but it beats a concession speech for him at this point.
Below is a rush transcript of Biden’s speech.
Good evening. Your patience is commendable.
We knew this was going to go long, but who knew we were going to go into maybe tomorrow morning? We feel good about where we are. We really do. We believe we’re on track to win this election.
We knew because of the unprecedented early vote, the mail-in vote, that it was going to take awhile. We’re going to have to be patient until the hard work of tallying the votes is finished, and it ain’t over until every vote is counted — every ballot is counted.
But we’re feeling good. We’re feeling good about where we are. We believe one of the [networks] has suggested we’ve already won Arizona, but we’re confident about Arizona — that’s a turnaround. We also just called it for Minnesota. And we’re still in the game in Georgia, although that’s not one we expected. And we’re feeling real good about Wisconsin and Michigan.
And by the way, it’s going to take time to count the votes, but we’re going to win Pennsylvania. I’ve been talking to folks in Philly, Allegheny County, Scranton, and they’re really encouraged by the turnout and what they see. Look, you know we could know the results as early as tomorrow morning. But it may take a little longer.
As I’ve said all along, it’s not my place or Donald Trump’s place to declare who has won this election. That’s the decision of the American people. But I’m optimistic about this outcome. I want to thank every one of you who came out and voted in this election.
And by the way, Chris Coons and the Democrats, congratulations here in Delaware. … I’m grateful to the poll workers, to our volunteers, our canvassers, everyone who participated in this democratic process. And I’m grateful to all of my supporters here in Delaware and all across the nation. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
And folks, you heard me say it before. Every time I walk out of my grandpa’s house up in Scranton, he would yell, “Joey, keep the faith. ” And my grandma, when she was alive, would yell, “No, Joey, spread it.” Keep the faith, guys. We’re going to win this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your patience is great.
