The Russian leader says he wants a dialogue based on equality, mutual respect and realistic understanding.

The ‘blue-collar billionaire’ trusted his gut and believed that his message and style would connect with how Americans now absorb the news.

While voting appears to be proceeding normally in many locations, some voters in Florida said they had encountered aggressive, intimidating behavior, according to a group monitoring election issues.

Two other New Hampshire towns claiming first-in-the-nation status cast and counted their ballots after midnight as well.

The action will roll from pre-dawn voting in New Hampshire to late-night poll closings in Alaska, but Virginia and Utah may foreshadow the outcome.