Trump takes early lead

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NEW YORK – Republican Donald Trump struck first on Tuesday in the bitter presidential race against Democrat Hillary Clinton, winning as expected in conservative Kentucky and Indiana with results in more vital state battlegrounds coming within an hour.

U.S. television networks, making the projections, said Clinton was the victor in the state of Vermont.

The early victories for both in all three states were long predicted but not especially significant in a national race where opinion polls show Clinton has an edge. Polls also closed in the battleground states of Virginia and Georgia although there were no immediate results.

Voting was due to end in the vital battleground states of North Carolina and Ohio in 30 minutes.

Clinton led Trump, 44 per cent to 39 per cent, in the last Reuters/Ipsos national tracking poll before Election Day. A Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation poll gave her a 90 per cent chance of defeating Trump and becoming the first woman elected U.S. president. (Reuters)