‘I’m a Brit at Democrat celebration and all of the individuals I met mentioned similar factor about Trump’

Kamala Harris chose Howard University to hold her election night watch party.

But in reality, there was a lot more watching than partying going on.

Shortly before 1am local time, it was announced that Ms Harris wouldn’t be giving a speech tonight, but would return tomorrow to speak not just to her supporters, but to the nation.

At this point Ms Harris’ routes to victory are slim and dwindling. She needs everything to go in her favour.

She’s not winning areas she needs to be winning, and in the areas where she is winning, she’s not winning by enough.

Anything less than a Lazarus-style comeback will mean a second Donald Trump presidency. An angrier, older, potentially even more vengeful and erratic Donald Trump.

I met Nabila from Washington DC at Kamala Harris’ huge rally in the capital last week.

Shortly after it was announced Ms Harris wouldn’t be giving a speech tonight, I caught up with her in the crowd.

Asked if she was disappointed, she said: “I’m to give my girl some grace, because she has been all over the place. It’s totally understandable.

“I voted for her, so I’m just waiting to hear what the results are. I know it’s a lot of stress and stuff.”

And asked how she would keep her spirits up overnight, she added: “I’m confident 100%, and I have all faith in her. I just hope the rest of everybody else can catch up to that same level of understanding.

“Hopefully people made the right choice because we cannot deal with Trump again.

“I’m going to keep turning up for her, so if they have this tomorrow I’m going to show up. Hopefully they give me another flag.

“I’m going to keep showing up and hopefully that’s what everybody else does. Showing up for her.”

Leaving the watch party in Washington, Maya from Maryland told me she was “just a little bit” disappointed not to hear from Kamala Harris tonight.

“It’s understandable,” she said. “I’m disappointed but hopeful.”

Asked how she would keep her spirits up, she said: “Just…faith.”

Jay Jones, the 64th Executive President of the student association at Howard University, said she wasn’t disappointed Ms Harris didn’t give a speech.

“I think we can see votes are still coming in,” she said. “I’m very hopeful, still, and will remain hopeful in the campaign, and I’m going to remain hopeful in the vision she has for America.”

And Kim, originally from Oakland, California but now living in Maryland, said: “I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Asked how she’d keep her spirits up, she said: “Well my spirits never went down. I know how this works. We’re going to wake up to a winner.”

While everyone I spoke to is putting a brave face on it, you’ve got to wonder whether – after the rush of the election campaign – her supporters are going home tonight thinking about what that will mean for them, their families and for the world.