It’s hard to pinpoint a particular moment when the winds begin to change, but in hindsight I’d say it was when the faces on the screen at the Javits Center started to show alarm, a bit of human-like surprise
The streets around Donald J. Trump’s election-night headquarters at Manhattan’s Midtown Hilton are crackling with excitement. Inside, thousands of supporters have gathered to cheer on their hero. Just miles away, at the Javits Center, Hillary Clinton’s supporters huddle in expectation. Tonight, these might be the most consequential few miles in all the world.
I’m not the only one who looks a bit bewildered at Trump HQ: the campaign-staff members are young and still raw. The top Trump staffers, on the other hand, are skilled and practiced. As a gaggle of cameramen follow them, they deliver their lines with bluster and confidence, predicting their candidate’s win.
Behind them, however, massive screens rain down numbers and graphs like confetti: a record turnout, unprecedented Hispanic involvement. Another worry: There is excitement in the Hillary camp, the major networks say. The Trump faithful remain undaunted, doubling down; there are millions who haven’t yet voted, they insist, and plenty of time still left. It’s barely seven o’clock.
It’s being billed as a victory party and the Wi-Fi code is DJT4thewin. But I’ll be honest: during the slow first few hours, I take advantage of the quiet to write a magazine feature about Trump’s impending loss.
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