Trump gains early lead in key swing states, Harris lags behind

In a tight US presidential race, Republican candidate Donald Trump has taken the lead in six out of the seven pivotal swing states, often referred to as battlegrounds due to their potential to sway the election outcome.

With counting well underway, Trump is ahead in North Carolina - already called in his favor - as well as Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Georgia. Results are still pending in Nevada, the remaining swing state.

These battleground states are crucial for both candidates as they carry a nearly balanced split of support between Democrats and Republicans. This election season, the key swing states include Pennsylvania (19 electoral votes), Michigan (10), Georgia (16), Wisconsin (10), North Carolina (16), Nevada (6), and Arizona (11).

Both candidates are working to reach the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency. Current projections show Trump in the lead with 230 votes, while Democrat candidate Kamala Harris trails at 205.

Exit polls suggest that issues like the state of democracy, economic conditions, and abortion rights were top priorities for voters. A CBS News survey indicated that around 60% of voters saw the state of democracy as their primary concern, while abortion and the economy were also significant but less dominant issues. A CNN exit poll further highlighted that nearly three-quarters of voters expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of the nation.