When comparing to the perditions and the gap closed in traditional democrat bastions it was

I'm not sure what that means--although you do seem to come to the discussion with a sense of wrong. However, I like history. I like facts. I looked at the last 120 years of presidential elections in the U.S. In only six elections has the margin between winner and loser (popular vote) been closer than the result this year, and in most cases closer by a percentage of a point. More typical would be a result that shows much larger difference between winner and loser.

No avalanche here, I'm afraid. A clear win though. The people have spoken. Life goes on and we all will try to get the best government we can with what we have now. That's what people do who believe in democracy.

1904
56.42% 37.60%

1908
51.6% 43.1%

1912
41.8% 27.4%

1916
49.2% 46.1%

1920
60.4% 34.1%

1924
54.0% 28.8% 16.6%

1928
58.2% 40.8%

1932
57.4% 39.6%

1936
60.8% 36.5%

1940
54.7% 44.8%

1944
53.4% 45.9%

1948
49.6% 45.1% 2.4%

1952
55.2% 44.3%

1956
57.4% 42.0%

1960
49.72% 49.55%

1964
61.1% 38.5%

1968
43.4% 42.7% 13.5%

1972
60.7% 37.5%

1976
50.1% 48.0%

1980
50.7% 41.0% 6.6%

1984
58.8% 40.6%

1988
53.4% 45.6%

1992
43.0% 37.4% 18.9%

1996
49.2% 40.7% 8.4%

2000
47.9% 48.4%

2004
50.7% 48.3%

2008
52.9% 45.7%

2012
51.1% 47.2%

2016
46.1% 48.2%

2020
51.3% 46.8%