Dr Georg Löfflmann of the Department of Politics and International Relations reflects as the United States marks the inauguration of Joe Biden as President.

"Usually by a couple of days into the counts you do have a clear idea of which candidate will win which states. This year it’s much more difficult to call because of the time it’s taking to get through some of these really quite substantial numbers of ballots, of postal votes especially, in some of the crucial states - so we don’t yet have either candidate at the magical 270 Electoral College votes needed for a win."

"The courts could again be crucial in settling the contests this year, not only in Florida but in other swing states if the voting margins are very close. With Trump and Senate Republicans having successfully tipped the balance to conservatives on the Supreme Court, newly appointed Justice Amy Coney Barrett could prove a significant character in this year's election battle."

"For Donald Trump, this debate was probably the last chance to reenergize his campaign and try to swing the election, and in that he failed." Dr. Georg Löfflmann, Leverhulme Early Career Fellow at the University of Warwick and expert on populist governments, gives his take on the second and final US Presidential debate of the 2020 election.

"Expect plenty of verbal fireworks and not a great deal of policy substance - it will no doubt be a spectacle but perhaps not the kind of debate that voters need so they can make an informed choice in this crucial election." Dr Trevor McCrisken previews this evening's final US Presidential debate.