A dramatic moment unfolded on live television when CNN's Jake Tapper encountered unexpected election statistics about Vice President Kamala Harris's performance compared to President Biden's previous results.
According to the New York Post, the incident occurred during CNN's early Wednesday morning election coverage when Tapper requested chief national correspondent John King to display a graphic showing states where Harris had improved upon Biden's 2020 numbers by at least 3%.
The resulting visualization revealed a stark reality that left both journalists visibly stunned. The map, which should have highlighted areas of improvement, remained completely gray, indicating no significant gains in any state.
Tapper's genuine surprise became evident as he processed the information in real time. His incredulous response quickly went viral, with one clip shared on X garnering over 5 million views. The seasoned anchor's reaction manifested in multiple expressions of disbelief. When presented with the data, Tapper exclaimed his astonishment, prompting King to confirm the unexpected findings.
King further elaborated on the statistics by switching the display to show county-level data. This revealed that Harris had managed to outperform Biden by 3% in only 58 counties nationwide, a stark contrast to Trump's performance in over a thousand counties.
The detailed breakdown of county-level performance painted a concerning picture for the Democratic campaign. Out of approximately 4,600 counties and townships across America, Harris's improved performance was limited to a remarkably small number.
In battleground Pennsylvania, a crucial state for both campaigns, Harris managed to outperform Biden by 3% or more in just one county. This statistic proved particularly significant given Pennsylvania's role as a key swing state.
The analysis demonstrated Trump's considerable advantage in county-level performance. The former president's strong showing across numerous counties contributed to his eventual victory, marking a significant shift from the 2020 election results.
The data presentation occurred during CNN's coverage of what would become Trump's victory announcement. The former president successfully flipped several crucial states that he had lost in 2020.
Trump's path to victory included winning back Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, three states that had been instrumental in Biden's 2020 victory. This reversal proved decisive in determining the election's outcome. As shared by CNN's John King during the broadcast:
There might be more out here on the West Coast, possibly one or two more as they finish the count here, but in the states that matter — again, I just showed you all those Trump counties — in one county in battleground Pennsylvania, she's outperforming President Biden by 3% or more.
The statistical revelation on CNN became a defining moment of the election coverage. The viral spread of Tapper's reaction highlighted the significance of Harris's performance metrics.
The comprehensive data analysis showed that even in traditionally Democratic strongholds, Harris struggled to improve upon Biden's previous numbers. This pattern held true across diverse geographic regions and demographic groups.
These findings contributed to a broader understanding of the election's outcome, demonstrating how performance metrics at the county level translated into state-wide results and, ultimately, the national outcome. The stark visualization of these statistics on national television provided a clear illustration of the election's decisive turning point.
