Biden needs 47 electoral votes to win

President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are battling it out for the White House, with polls gradually closing across the United States Tuesday -- and then a long night of waiting for results ahead.

So far, that gives Biden 223 electoral votes and Trump a maximum of 174, because Nebraska splits its electoral votes based on congressional district.  To become President, One needs 270 electoral votes.  Biden now needs 47 electoral votes to win while Trump needs 96 to win.

The first results are trickling in, with US media projecting wins for the Republican incumbent so far in 17 states including Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee -- all states he won in 2016.

Biden has captured 16 states including his home state Delaware and big prizes California and New York, as well as the US capital. As with Trump, so far, all states claimed by Biden were won by Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.

With about 91% of the Florida vote in, Donald Trump leads Biden by about 3 points, 51%-48%.

In Georgia, where 54% of the vote is in, Trump leads by 13 points, 56%-43%.

Florida was seen as a toss-up, although a recent poll showed Biden ahead there by 5 points. The Democratic nominee was also seen as slightly favored to win Georgia.

It’s important to remember Biden did not absolutely need to win Florida or Georgia. If he can win in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, he will still capture the White House.

However, Biden wins in Florida or Georgia would have almost certainly eliminated any chance of a Trump victory. That does not seem to be the case tonight.

Instead, we will likely have to wait for results from the Midwestern battlegrounds to determine the winner of the presidential race.