Anxious Clinton campaign waits for election returns

Anxious aides to Democrat Hillary Clinton watch key swing states Ohio, North Carolina and Florida go for Republican Donald Trump, while keeping a close eye on Michigan and Wisconsin — two states that had seemed like safe bets for her as the presidential race shapes up to be far closer than her top strategists had anticipated.

“I’m terrified,” says Clinton supporter Niki Rarig, 34, who traveled to New York City from Portland, Oregon, for what was meant to be a victory celebration. “I just can’t even imagine what a Trump presidency would look like.”

The shape of the contest was startling to Clinton and her aides, who ended their campaign exuding confidence. Many stopped returning calls and text messages as the votes were tallied. Clinton, her family and close aides hunkered down to watch returns at a Manhattan hotel suite.

Democrats have carried Michigan in every presidential election since 1992, and Clinton made two stops there in the final days of the campaign to shore up support, but she never made a stop in Wisconsin after the primary there last spring, confident of a victory there. Both states remain too close to call.

— AP