VIDEO: Canadians will be watching the US election closely

Tomorrow night's US election is probably the most bitterly divisive ever, and it has Canadians watching very closely.

"With morbid curiosity," said one Kelowna resident who spoke with KelownaNow on a rainy Monday.

"It will be interesting to watch from afar," he said. "Not far enough!"

The high level of interest has the BC Lottery Corporation cashing in.

The 2024 US election is enticing bettors in a way that only an American election can do.

Interest in tomorrow's vote is similar to that of the 2020 US election which set a record for the single biggest betting event in PlayNow’s history.

Canadians wagered a total $4.5 million, in more than 16,000.

Canadians generally lean toward the Democrats in American elections and a Leger survey conducted in October showed 64% of respondents favouring Harris with just 21% hoping for a Trump victory.

On Kelowna's Bernard Avenue, an informal sampling suggested support for Trump a little higher than that.

"He wears his heart on his sleeve," said one man as he sipped on his Tim Hortons Coffee.

"In my opinion, he'll be the best president since Kennedy."

"He's a no-nonsense kind of fellow," said another. "So when the word starts to push, he'll push back."

But the majority of the people KelownaNow spoke to would cast a ballot for Harris if they could.

"I hope to God that Kamala Harris gets in power with Tim Walz simply because Trump has already shown his colours," said one.

"His remarks don't make any sense," said another. "I believe he is a fascist and a wanna-be dictator."

If the people placing their bets know their stuff, Trump is the favourite with a day to go before the vote.

PlayNow has Trump at 1.66 odds ($10 bet wins $16.60), with Harris at 2.15 ($10 bet wins $21.50).