DEMOCRAT JOE BIDEN has just pulled into the lead as the vote count continues in the crucial US swing state of Pennsylvania, having earlier also taken the lead in Georgia – another key state. 

Biden pulled ahead of Trump by 5,597 according to numbers reported by the state just before 2pm today. 

Following further reporting of votes, he now leads by 12,390. (For updates on the counts as they happen check our liveblog). 

The developments put the former Vice President in a strong position to clinch the 270 electoral college votes needed to seal the presidency. 

President Trump had been ahead in both states, and had a commanding lead of around 600,000 in Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning. 

However Biden has steadily closed the gap in both states as postal ballots have been counted. 

Throughout the campaign, Biden encouraged his supporters to vote by post due to fears over the coronavirus pandemic. Trump repeatedly cast doubt on the integrity of the postal process and called on his voters to turn out in person on election day. 

Biden pulled ahead in Georgia earlier this morning, and is now ahead there by over 1,500 votes with over 99% of the votes counted. 

A statement from the Trump campaign: "this election is not over." pic.twitter.com/92pV9EmBbM

— Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) November 6, 2020

In a statement this afternoon, the Trump campaign  said “this election is not over”.

The statement claimed these were “false projections” for Biden and says that Trump will be re-elected. 

A spokesperson for the Biden campaign said: “As we said on July 19th, the American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”