Fermanagh weighs in on Trump victory in US election

Main rival, Kamala Harris, conceded defeat as Trump secured the magic number of 270 Electoral College votes. 

Following this seismic result for the US Republican Party, yesterday (Wednesday) The Impartial Reporter hit the streets of Enniskillen to gauge reaction.

Watching the election in Pat's Bar were Deckie Keaveney and John Boyd. 

"Well, all I can say is the bookies got it right!" Deckie remarked. "Don't look at the television, just look at the prices on the bookies. 

"I don't know if he's the right man for the job, but he must have the gift of the gab...there must be a bit of the Irish in him!"

John said: "I wasn't surprised that he won, but I was surprised by the margin that he won by. I actually thought Harris would have won.

"But, that's democracy. Everyone has the right to vote, and to even spoil their vote if they so choose."

Outside at Enniskillen town centre, Carina McManus and Ciarrai McBrien wished the American people well. 

"He won by that much of a majority, so the American people obviously see what we don't see," Carina said. 

"It's wrong to say such a large swathe of the population didn't know what they were doing. If that amount of people think he's right for the job, then he must be."

Ciarri added: "Not everyone in the country is stupid."

Michael Martin said that he is worried about the impact that Trump's election on the conflict in Ukraine. 

"The only thing I would worry about is Ukraine," he said. "If he (Trump) pulls the support out of Ukraine, is Russia going to be able to carry on doing what they are doing? 

"Overall, it won't impact us too much. I was hoping, probably against hope, that Harris would do it.

"The problem with democrats in America is they are mostly middle-class people who don't really identify with the working class. I think that's part of the problem. I could be wrong." 

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris (Image: PA)On polling day (Tuesday) this newspaper also gauged opinion from people in Enniskillen. Armed with a picture of Mr. Trump and Ms. Harris, passers-by were asked who would people vote for and why, who they think will win and a series of other questions.

Richard Neeley says he would back Trump and believes the former President will win,  giving his reasoning he said: “He is just a lad.”

Rebecca Woods was with him and said: “I don’t care who wins, I mean whoever brings us more money, I will take that one.”

When asked if Mr Trump could run Northern Ireland, Richard said: “He sorted out America alright, he got them out of Afghanistan and all that craic. I think he is doing alright. Biden has done nothing.”

Myrtle Balfour and Sally Masterson indicated to the photo of Kamala Harris as they stopped on the Diamond and said:  “Her.”

Sally added: “She is the best of two evils.”

Agreeing Myrtle said: “I would be on the same lines.

However, the pair both agreed that it was going to be a close race: “It’s going to be very close, it is only a chance we would guess right, it is so close”, said Myrtle.

Ciaran Brough let out an exasperated sigh when faced with images of the two candidates.

When asked who he would back, he said: “I don’t really know much about them but I think I would go, Trump, the world is already mad enough so why not have him in charge.”

“The world is bonkers and he seems bonkers.

“Just seeing what is on the news and what is going on, I don’t really know much about her.”

When asked if he could see Ms. Harris or Mr. Trump running Northern Ireland he said: “I don’t think you’d want them about Northern Ireland, to be honest.”

Robert Elliott was walking up the High Street when asked who he would vote for, with a laugh he replied: “Thankfully, I don’t have to make such a decision”

“Trump whether you like him or not, he is an unusual candidate, he is a strong cult of personality. Kamala Harris, I don’t know about politics, I don’t know about my own, so I am happier than the average person.

“He has said some controversial things and he has stirred up people.

“I remember that book 1984 by George Orwell started buying it because he referred to fake news.”

Does he think Mr. Trump will win?

“Well, he took it before anyway with Clinton, like I say, I don’t know what it is like to live in America so I am the wrong person to ask.”

He concluded that he is not really following coverage but quipped: “I am just trying to build a bomb shelter.”

Two ladies who preferred not to be named pointed to Mrs. Harris’s picture and said “her”.

Another gentleman roared across the street: “None, as they will do nothing anyway!”

Avril Briers was surprised to hear that Trump was polling ahead of Harris in The Impartial Reporter’s unofficial poll of Enniskillen as she offered up her opinion that Mr. Trump would win.

“He is a narcissistic and whatever else but I do believe he takes no crap.

“It is anybody’s game but I think, I will be disappointed if she gets in, she seems very nice but she is not strong enough I think, I just think he is stronger.”

Ms. Harris stands to be the first female president if elected.

She has promised to work across the aisle to tackle economic worries and other issues without radically departing from the course set by President Joe Biden.

Mr Trump, has vowed to replace thousands of federal workers with loyalists, impose sweeping tariffs on allies and foes alike, and stage the largest deportation operation in US history.

Fiona Doherty said she wouldn’t back either candidate: “Neither of them seem to do anything, it’s a bit like here”, she said with a laugh.

When asked if she is following the election, she said: “I was kind of following it but not really at the minute, I think she has more of a go than him. He has been there before and it's easier to vote for somebody who has been there before.

“She would be more beneficial.”

Concluding she remarked: “They are not going to do us any good whatsoever.”

When faced with pictures of the two candidates, Eve Dunbar grimaced and said: “I am not voting for him put it like that.”

When asked for her opinion, she said: “I was going to say something but I will refrain from the word I was going to use.

“I just don’t agree with anything he does or anything he says.”

Eve said: “I would like to see the benefits she may bring, especially in regards to abortion rights and the health of women in America and I hope people would take that into consideration, not just women but men as well. They’ve got wives, sisters, daughters, mothers and I hope they would see the benefits she would bring but it’s a double-edged sword for most people in politics.”

“The lesser of two evils in all regards.”

She laughed and replied “Oh no! No, no, no!” when asked if the American politicians should try running Northern Ireland.

Sarah Mullan said she would vote for Donald Trump.

“I am a Christian and he has better Christian values than Kamala”

Her friend Sarah Balfour concurred: “I would say the same.”

She said: “I am not following really closely, I think it is really neck and neck.”

Trump's victory has been named as one of the most dramatic comeback in US political history.

The election campaign was one for the history books: he survived two assassination attempts and his original opponent President Joe Biden dropped out just months before election day.

Four years after leaving the White House, Donald Trump is set to move back in, after millions of Americans voted to give him a second chance