US Election: Surprise and euphoria at Trump Tower in New York City

Euphoric Donald Trump supporters are partying late into the night at Trump Tower as the billionaire edges closer to winning the race to the White House.

The Republican nominee's official "victory party" in a Manhattan hotel ballroom started slowly, but as Mr Trump won state after state, increasingly pumped up and raucous.

The crowd swelled in number, flagging energy levels boosted by alcohol and the avalanche of results that some admitted were far better than they ever imagined with Hillary Clinton the strong favourite.

"We are so excited," Aliza Romanoff, a mother of two from Long Island whose family has known Mr Trump for years, said.

"It's unbelievable. I didn't know Trump was really going to pull it off," said Glenn Ruti, a 54-year-old New Yorker who works in telecommunications, albeit with no winner yet declared in the race.

"I think he's going to go all the way."

As Fox News, the TV network of choice for most Trump supporters beamed across the party on giant screens, declared Ohio, North Carolina, Florida, Iowa and Wisconsin a win for Mr Trump, they broke out into whoops and cheers, clapping their hands, fist-pumping and waving placards.

"He's going to win and my life is forever changed," one supporter yelled into his cell phone, seemingly unable to believe it.

Bar staff in black tie rushed around collecting empties or bringing out fresh bottles.

There were spontaneous chants of "Drain the Swamp." That is Trump's battle cry for overhauling establishment Washington.

While the crowd was overwhelmingly white American, it was more diverse and smaller than often evident at Trump's campaign rallies.

There were Asian Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and affluent couples alongside core blue-collar workers.

Supporters trashed the American media, which largely predicted a Clinton win, dismissing it as untrustworthy and biased in favor of the Democratic former secretary of state.

Accusations that Trump is racist were lies manufactured by Democrats, supporters said.

"We're feeling ecstatic," said Jesse Singh, 46, from Baltimore.

"Once it's declared, once he reaches 270 we're going to have a party like we've never seen before," he promised, before breaking into USA chants with a young white man.