An American academic widely referred to as the ‘Nostradamus of US presidential elections’ was at a loss when his prediction turned out to be wrong.
Pollster Professor Allan Lichtman was heard saying “I don’t get it” on his election livestream, when Trump became the clear winner.
The 77-year-old has had success with nine out of 10 elections since 1984, including correctly predicting Trump’s 2016 win. With his history of success, he was confident in his assertion that Kamala Harris would win. He predicted first by a landslide, then reassessed, saying she would win by a narrow margin.
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He started his live podcast by saying that the election was “probably the most consequential election certainly in my lifetime”, adding: “The fate of our country hangs in the balance here. Democracy is precious but it can be destroyed.”
(Image: Getty Images)
He said that if Kamala could “pull off Pennsylvania” she still had a “good shot”, as Nevada results came in. However, as Trump emerged as the clear frontrunner, a baffled Lichtman had to accept he got it wrong.
He said: “I’m not doing any interviews, I’m done.”
His son, Sam, who was Lichtman’s podcast co-host for the evening, also appeared confused by the results.
(Image: Professor Allan Lichtman/YouTube)
Sam said: “I can’t believe it. I’m kind of in shock right now… I just can’t believe it after this guy has essentially attempted to take down our democracy already, that people what to give him another chance.”
As Lichtman and his son called the election, the history professor said: “Good think I have nothing to do tomorrow.”
He then made a fresh prediction, claiming the new President elect won’t serve for the full second term because of his age.
He said: “You know what happens if Trump wins? He won’t serve a full term, he’ll turn it over to JD Vance.”
(Image: CTVNews)
He signed off, saying that he was “going to sleep all day tomorrow”.
After he finished his podcast he told USA TODAY that “after a very long night” he was “taking some time off to assess why I was wrong and what the future holds for America”.
The only other election misstep Lichtman made was in 2000, when George W. Bush defeated Democrat Al Gore.
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