Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - "I thought Donald Trump would win the electoral college, but not the popular vote," admitted Republican Strategist Carl Calabrese during an appearance with WBEN on Wednesday.
Calabrese called Trump's victory a complete repudiation of the Biden-Harris administration and Democratic party.
"The economic issue, and the border issue just overpowered everything else," he said. "People voted with their pocketbooks."
Prior to the election, polls showed that 70%-to-75% of Americans thought the country was going in the wrong direction.
Calabrese says this is what happens when the electorate is in a foul mood.
"It's time for a change and Trump was the change agent," he said.
If Republicans hold the House, (which is still being determined at press time), Calabrese characterizes the election as the equivalent of a grand slam, walk-off, home run.
"The Presidency, the Senate, the House of Representatives and the popular vote. No one saw that coming," Calabrese said.
Trump claimed victory after winning the swing states of North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, and he could pick up more as several states are still finalizing the vote count.
What about the polls?
Once again, it appears that presidential polls underestimated support for Trump.
"This is the third time that pollsters have failed to accurately count Trump supporters," Calabrese noted. "It may be that shy Trump voters are still out there. People will not willing to talk to anonymous pollsters on the phone
and tell them their true sentiment. The pollsters are missing the turnout model. Donald Trump brings out people who normally don't turnout."