Everyone is on edge over the 2024 presidential election. But this latest development will only stir people up further.
And Republicans have sounded the alarm after a Pennsylvania news outlet is caught leaking election results.
During a recent Formula 1 race broadcast, WNEP, a Pennsylvania news station, caused controversy when simulated election results appeared on screen, showing Vice President Kamala Harris in the lead in Pennsylvania. The display showed Harris with 52% and former President Donald Trump with 47%, sparking widespread reaction on social media.
WNEP, which serves the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, later addressed the incident in a statement, explaining that these were not actual election results but rather “test results” that had been “randomly generated” for equipment calibration purposes.
The station clarified, “Test results for the upcoming November 5 general election mistakenly appeared on WNEP-TV early Sunday evening during a broadcast of the Formula 1 Mexico Grand Prix.” They admitted the numbers were not intended to appear on the screen, attributing the incident to a technical error.
WNEP Scranton PA already has the election results posted. @elonmusk @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/eWR1oABWbK
— PrisonElvis (@elivislives) October 27, 2024
Despite the clarification, social media lit up with reactions. Some expressed concerns over the appearance of pre-determined results, while others brushed it off as a clear example of “obviously test data.”
Pointing out discrepancies, critics noted that Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick’s “check mark” was incorrect, casting doubt on the numbers’ legitimacy.
Mark Mitchell, lead pollster at Rasmussen Reports, weighed in on X, calling it “obviously test data plugged in by an idiot,” and dismissing concerns with sarcasm: “A Harris 5% PA win would be Venezuela-like.”
Sigh.
— Mark Mitchell, Rasmussen Reports (@Mark_R_Mitchell) October 30, 2024
This is obviously test data plugged in by an idiot. The McCormick check mark isn't even right.
A Harris 5% PA win would be Venezuela-like. https://t.co/uOvhIxEHFe
Meanwhile, others voiced deeper fears, questioning whether an “already decided” election was on the horizon and speculating about potential civil unrest.
Is the US election already decided?
— Richard Braine (@AgainBraine) October 30, 2024
At what point does ignoring the people produce civil war? https://t.co/tG4gX7bI0w
This event took place as a new Monmouth survey showed the race in Pennsylvania was actually neck and neck. Between October 24-28, the survey found 47% of registered Pennsylvania voters leaned toward Trump, while 46% leaned toward Harris.
This close polling aligns with predictions that Pennsylvania will be a key swing state in the election.
Breitbart’s Nick Gilbertson recently highlighted Trump’s “easiest path to victory,” which would require winning Pennsylvania along with Georgia and North Carolina to secure a crucial 270 electoral votes.
The Republican Party has made strides in Pennsylvania, increasing its voter registration numbers and flipping several previously Democratic counties to a Republican majority, including Beaver, Berks, Bucks, Fayette, and Luzerne counties.
These shifts have only intensified the focus on Pennsylvania as a pivotal state in the upcoming election.
However, Donald Trump could lose Pennsylvania but still win the election if he wins either Wisconsin or Michigan.
Kamala Harris on the other hand has to win Pennsylvania if she wants to win the presidency.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
