Joe Biden has said he will do everything he can to build bridges across the American political divide if he is confirmed as the next US President.

In a speech from his home state of Delaware this evening, Mr Biden insisted that “every vote must be counted” and warned that “no-one is going to take our democracy away from us.”

Vote counting is continuing in what has been an extremely tight election; however, the former US Vice President is now firmly in the driving seat after taking the state of Wisconsin this evening.

He is also projected to win the State of Michigan.

The Trump campaign has launched a number of legal challenges to the voting process in a number of states – and has called for a recount in Wisconsin – a process that will not begin for at least ten days.

The incumbent has already cast doubt over the integrity of the election by hitting out with baseless claims of voter fraud this morning and claiming an overall victory before ballots were counted.

"Every vote must be counted"

Mr Biden said he now expects to win the election with the largest vote count in history – however, he said no announcement would be made until his victory was certain.

“Now every vote must be counted,” he said. “No-one is going to take our democracy away from us. Not now, not ever.

“America has come too far, America has fought too many battles, America has endured too much to ever let that happen.

“We the people will not be silenced. We the people will not be bullied. We the people will not surrender.

“My friends, I am confident we will emerge victorious but this will not be my victory alone or our victory alone. It will be a victory for the American people. For our democracy. For America.

“There will be no blue states and red states when we win – just the United States of America.”

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks as his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris looks on, 04-11-2020. Image: Carolyn Kaster/AP/Press Association Images

The Democratic candidate said the campaign had been “long and difficult” – but said it has “been a more difficult time for our country.”

“We have had hard campaigns before,” he said. “We have faced hard times before.

“Once this election is finalised and behind us, it will be time for us to what we have always done as Americans. To put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us. To lower the temperature. To see each other again, to listen to one another, to hear each other again and respect and care for one another.

“To unite, to heal, to come together as a nation. I know this won’t be easy. I am not naïve. Neither of us are.

I know how deep and hard the opposing views are in our country on so many things but I know this as well – to make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as enemies. We are not enemies.

“What brings us together as Americans is so much stronger than anything that can tear us apart.

“We are campaigning as Democrats but I will govern as an American President.

“The presidency is not a partisan institution. It is the one office in this nation that represents everyone. It demands a duty of care for all Americans and that is precisely what I will do.

“I will work as hard for those that didn’t vote for me as I will for those that did vote for me.”

Democracy

Mr Biden said the election had “once again proved that democracy is the heartbeat of this nation.”

“If we had any doubts, we shouldn’t have them any longer,” he said. “A Government of, by and for the people is very much alive. It is very much alive in America.

“Here, the people rule, power can’t be taken or asserted. It flows from the people and it is their will that determines who will be the President of the United States and their will alone.”