Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants to win Texas for the first time since Jimmy Carter in 1976. AFP
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants to win Texas for the first time since Jimmy Carter in 1976. AFP
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants to win Texas for the first time since Jimmy Carter in 1976. AFP
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden wants to win Texas for the first time since Jimmy Carter in 1976. AFP

Can Joe Biden and the Democrats flip Texas for the first time since 1976?


Joyce Karam
  • English
  • Arabic

Record early voting turnout in Texas this week has Democrats hopeful that their candidate, Joe Biden, could for the first time since Jimmy Carter in 1976 turn the state blue in November.

The latest data from the Texas Secretary of State’s office shows 16.9 million Texans are registered to vote in this election, a rise of 1.8 million on 2016.

The Lone Star state started early voting on Tuesday and is setting records in the first two days.

More than 128,000 people in Harris county, the state's largest, voted on Tuesday, almost double the 67,741 who turned up on the first day in 2016.

By 3pm on Wednesday, the Harris county clerk tweeted that another 70,000 had voted.

Higher turnout is also being reported in the Democratic-leaning college areas in Houston:

In Travis county in Austin, which favours the Democrats, 97 per cent of eligible voters are registered to cast their ballot.

Longer waiting times were reported at all of the county’s polling places on Tuesday:

Ryan Bohl, an Austin resident and voter, described the mood as very enthusiastic in Travis county.

"There is obviously very high enthusiasm in Travis county to vote," Mr Bohl told The National.

"I've heard a lot about long lines and the county official who spoke to me said I should expect to work the polls well past closing should there still be a line."

He said the mood was even more intense than 2018, when Democratic Congressman Beto O’Rourke almost unseated Republican Senator Ted Cruz and lost by only 2.5 per cent.

That is the closest margin the Democrats have recorded in Texas in decades.

“I have seen a fair share of Joe Biden and Donald Trump advertisements on TV here, which suggests that both campaigns see Texas as up for grabs,” Mr Bohl said.

The pandemic, police reforms, the economy and immigration are all issues at play in the Texas election.

A poll by Morning Consult last week showed US President Donald Trump leading Mr Biden in the state by only two points.

Mr Trump won the state in 2016 by nine points against Hillary Clinton, and former Republican nominee Mitt Romney beat Barack Obama by 16 points in 2012.

Experts say Texas’s 38 electoral votes could offer the Democrats a landslide victory on November 3, but only if they outperformed the polls and drove turnout among key demographics.

Galen Druke, of the election statistics website FiveThirtyEight, described Texas as a "majority-minority" state that is ripe for the Democrats in 2020.

"Texas may be a southern state, it may be a republican state, but it’s highly urbanised,” Mr Druke said in a recent podcast.

He said the state was 41 per cent white, 40 per cent Hispanic, 13 per cent black and 5 per cent Asian.

Mr Druke said a higher turnout, especially among minorities, suburban voters and college-educated whites, could help Mr Biden to outperform the polls.

“In recent elections, polls have underestimated Democrats by two to three points," he said.

"I wouldn’t be shocked if Mr Biden ends up winning the state."

  • US President Donald J. Trump speaks during his 'Make America Great Again' campaign event at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA. EPA
    US President Donald J. Trump speaks during his 'Make America Great Again' campaign event at the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, USA. EPA
  • U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden runs on stage before delivering remarks during a voter mobilization event, at Miramar Regional Park in Miramar, Florida, U.S.. REUTERS
    U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden runs on stage before delivering remarks during a voter mobilization event, at Miramar Regional Park in Miramar, Florida, U.S.. REUTERS
  • U.S. President Donald Trump throws face masks to the crowd as he arrives to hold a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
    U.S. President Donald Trump throws face masks to the crowd as he arrives to hold a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
  • U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
    U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
  • Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner participates with Democratic challenger and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper in the final debate in the 2020 race for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. REUTERS.
    Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner participates with Democratic challenger and former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper in the final debate in the 2020 race for Colorado's U.S. Senate seat at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S. REUTERS.
  • Supporters, including a child dressed as Trump and U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), react as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
    Supporters, including a child dressed as Trump and U.S. Representative Mike Kelly (R-PA), react as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
  • U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
    U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
  • U.S. President Donald Trump arrives aboard Air Force One to hold a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
    U.S. President Donald Trump arrives aboard Air Force One to hold a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
  • U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden holds up a note card containing his daily schedule, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) updates, and U.S. Military conflict statistics while delivering remarks on a Vision for Older Americans event at the Southwest Focal Point Community Center, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. REUTERS
    U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden holds up a note card containing his daily schedule, coronavirus disease (COVID-19) updates, and U.S. Military conflict statistics while delivering remarks on a Vision for Older Americans event at the Southwest Focal Point Community Center, in Pembroke Pines, Florida, U.S. REUTERS
  • A person wearing a finger sack points at an "I Voted" sticker after casting ballot for the upcoming presidential election as early voting begins in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS
    A person wearing a finger sack points at an "I Voted" sticker after casting ballot for the upcoming presidential election as early voting begins in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS
  • People wait in line to cast their ballots for the upcoming presidential election as early voting begins in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS
    People wait in line to cast their ballots for the upcoming presidential election as early voting begins in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS
  • People wait in line to cast their ballots for the upcoming presidential election as early voting begins in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS
    People wait in line to cast their ballots for the upcoming presidential election as early voting begins in Houston, Texas, U.S. REUTERS
  • U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas speaks to supporters to supporters at a get out the vote event, at NRG Stadium parking lot in Houston. AP
    U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Texas speaks to supporters to supporters at a get out the vote event, at NRG Stadium parking lot in Houston. AP
  • Voters cast their election ballots at a Fulton County polling station in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS
    Voters cast their election ballots at a Fulton County polling station in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. REUTERS
  • Supporters watch from their vehicles as U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden delivers remarks during a voter mobilization event, at Miramar Regional Park in Miramar, Florida, U.S. REUTERS
    Supporters watch from their vehicles as U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden delivers remarks during a voter mobilization event, at Miramar Regional Park in Miramar, Florida, U.S. REUTERS
  • U.S. President Donald Trump casts a shadow as he arrives aboard Air Force One to hold a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
    U.S. President Donald Trump casts a shadow as he arrives aboard Air Force One to hold a campaign rally at John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, U.S. REUTERS
  • A voter prepares to cast a ballot at an early voting polling location for the 2020 Presidential elections in Houston, Texas, U.S. Texas restrictions allowing only a single drop-box for mail-in ballots in each county were reinstated by a federal appeals court that said the governor's concerns about ballot security outweigh voting-rights activists' worries that millions of voters won't be able to safely access the drop-box. Bloomberg
    A voter prepares to cast a ballot at an early voting polling location for the 2020 Presidential elections in Houston, Texas, U.S. Texas restrictions allowing only a single drop-box for mail-in ballots in each county were reinstated by a federal appeals court that said the governor's concerns about ballot security outweigh voting-rights activists' worries that millions of voters won't be able to safely access the drop-box. Bloomberg

Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott won a legal battle this week limiting the number of drop-off sites in each county to one.

In Harris county where 4.7 million people live, that meant longer car queues.

But these measures have not stifled the turnout so far and will at least mean a close result in Texas.

SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20SAMSUNG%20GALAXY%20S24%20ULTRA
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World record transfers

1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar

Director: Neeraj Pandey

Rating: 2.5/5

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Power: 272hp at 6,400rpm

Torque: 331Nm from 5,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 9.7L/100km

On sale: now

Price: Dh149,000

 

Coffee: black death or elixir of life?

It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?

Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.

The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.

The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.

Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver. 

The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.

But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.

Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.

It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.

So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.

Rory Reynolds

The Settlers

Director: Louis Theroux

Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz

Rating: 5/5

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

The biog

Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists. 

Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.

Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic 

Results:

5pm: Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Tahoonah, Richard Mullen (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh90,000 1,400m | Winner: Ajwad, Gerald Avranche, Rashed Bouresly

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Lam Tara, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel

6.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m | Winner: Duc De Faust, Szczepan Mazur, Younis Al Kalbani

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Dh70,000 2,200m | Winner: Shareef KB, Fabrice Veron, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 1,500m | Winner: Bainoona, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel

Illegal%20shipments%20intercepted%20in%20Gulf%20region
%3Cp%3EThe%20Royal%20Navy%20raid%20is%20the%20latest%20in%20a%20series%20of%20successful%20interceptions%20of%20drugs%20and%20arms%20in%20the%20Gulf%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMay%2011%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EUS%20coastguard%20recovers%20%2480%20million%20heroin%20haul%20from%20fishing%20vessel%20in%20Gulf%20of%20Oman%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMay%208%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20US%20coastguard%20vessel%20USCGC%20Glen%20Harris%20seizes%20heroin%20and%20meth%20worth%20more%20than%20%2430%20million%20from%20a%20fishing%20boat%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EMarch%202%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Anti-tank%20guided%20missiles%20and%20missile%20components%20seized%20by%20HMS%20Lancaster%20from%20a%20small%20boat%20travelling%20from%20Iran%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOctober%209%2C%202022%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERoyal%20Navy%20frigate%20HMS%20Montrose%20recovers%20drugs%20worth%20%2417.8%20million%20from%20a%20dhow%20in%20Arabian%20Sea%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeptember%2027%2C%202022%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20US%20Naval%20Forces%20Central%20Command%20reports%20a%20find%20of%202.4%20tonnes%20of%20heroin%20on%20board%20fishing%20boat%20in%20Gulf%20of%20Oman%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg

Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).

Second leg

Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm

Games on BeIN Sports

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

New schools in Dubai
DEADPOOL & WOLVERINE

Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin

Director: Shawn Levy

Rating: 3/5

The BIO

Favourite piece of music: Verdi’s Requiem. It’s awe-inspiring.

Biggest inspiration: My father, as I grew up in a house where music was constantly played on a wind-up gramophone. I had amazing music teachers in primary and secondary school who inspired me to take my music further. They encouraged me to take up music as a profession and I follow in their footsteps, encouraging others to do the same.

Favourite book: Ian McEwan’s Atonement – the ending alone knocked me for six.

Favourite holiday destination: Italy - music and opera is so much part of the life there. I love it.

UAE rugby season

FIXTURES

West Asia Premiership

Dubai Hurricanes v Dubai Knights Eagles

Dubai Tigers v Bahrain

Jebel Ali Dragons v Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Division 1

Dubai Sharks v Dubai Hurricanes II

Al Ain Amblers v Dubai Knights Eagles II

Dubai Tigers II v Abu Dhabi Saracens

Jebel Ali Dragons II v Abu Dhabi Harlequins II

Sharjah Wanderers v Dubai Exiles II

 

LAST SEASON

West Asia Premiership

Winners – Bahrain

Runners-up – Dubai Exiles

UAE Premiership

Winners – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

Runners-up – Jebel Ali Dragons

Dubai Rugby Sevens

Winners – Dubai Hurricanes

Runners-up – Abu Dhabi Harlequins

UAE Conference

Winners – Dubai Tigers

Runners-up – Al Ain Amblers

Skoda Superb Specs

Engine: 2-litre TSI petrol

Power: 190hp

Torque: 320Nm

Price: From Dh147,000

Available: Now

Can NRIs vote in the election?

Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad

Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency

There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas

Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas

A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians

Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.

This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India

A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians

However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed

The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas

Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online

The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online

The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation

COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
 
Started: 2021
 
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
Based: Tunisia 
 
Sector: Water technology 
 
Number of staff: 22 
 
Investment raised: $4 million 
Who's who in Yemen conflict

Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government

Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council

Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south

Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory