Halifax watches U.S. voters pick new president

Dozens of Haligonians huddled under blankets on an outdoor patio Tuesday night to watch the American election results roll in.

Matt Trenholm arrived at the viewing party at Good Robot Brewing Company on Robie Street around 7 p.m. He was one of the first to claim a seat on the patio.

“There’s a lot riding on this (election),” Trenholm said. “America’s really the only superpower left; they will shape the outcome of the world.”

Brent Braaten works at Good Robot. He said the idea behind the viewing party was to foster political discourse within the community.

“What affects them (the United States) will eventually affect us, too,” said Braaten, when asked why he was watching the results.

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Fiona Kidd, a recent graduate of Dalhousie University, was concerned with the possibility that Republican Donald Trump, the eventual winner, might become the next president.

“I don’t want (the United States) to go back 50 years,” she said.

At least one American was in the crowd. Nichole Helm is from San Diego, Calif, and is working as a nurse in Halifax. She expressed discontent when it was announced that Trump had taken the key state of Texas.

“I’m a little bit terrified for my country and the world,” Helm said. “We’re such close neighbours that it definitely has an impact (on Canadians) and I think Trump doesn’t give a s—t about Canadians.”

The only moment of audible celebration from the crowd was around 11:30 p.m., when it was announced that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had taken the state of California.

The crowd thinned out significantly around midnight, once it became clear that Trump would take the swing states of Ohio and Florida.

Trump ultimately defeated Clinton, winning 279 electoral votes to her 228.

T-Dogs, a local hot dog vendor, was selling food at the event. A tally of sales determined that the “MacDonald Trump” outsold the  “Hillary Chillary” and the “Undecided.”

Scott Biggar was also there for the viewing. He was concerned with how the election results would affect Canada’s relationship with the country.

“If our prime minister doesn’t get along with whoever’s going to be elected president, that has its own implications for the next four years,” he said.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his congratulations to president-elect Trump on Twitter Wednesday morning.

Our shared values are strong. Our common purpose is to build countries where everyone has a fair chance to succeed. (…)

— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) November 9, 2016