WASHINGTON: Republican candidate Donald Trump has surged ahead of his democrat opponent Kamala Harris after hours into the US election counting. Trump wins North Carolina and is also leading in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Georgia.

The battle between Republican candidate Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala is unprecedentedly fierce and can go either way. This may also delay the announcement of results. The results in seven swing states, including Arizona and Pennsylvania, are important. America's first vote was in the tiny village of Dixville Notch in northern New Hampshire.

Kamala won California, Colorado and its electoral votes. Both the former President and the incumbent vice-president are pushing for the magic figure of 270 electoral college votes that will pave the way to the Oval Office in the White House. According to the current trends, Trump is leading with 230 votes, while Harris is at 187.

According to exit polls, the state of democracy, economy and abortion were the key issues on voters' minds when they headed to poll booths. A CBS News poll revealed that almost six in 10 people ranked the state of democracy as their number one issue, followed by abortion, which was picked by five per cent of voters as an important issue. The economy was a priority issue for one in ten.