Mr Rutledge, an accountant, said the most significant impact of the "shocking result" would probably be the ability to control Supreme Court appointments. There is a Supreme Court vacancy because of Justice Antonin Scalia’s death earlier this year, and it was possible a second vacancy would crop up in the next four years. Mr Rutledge believed big funding cuts would be made to women’s health and early education. Much of what Mr Trump had said he would do, particularly on trade barriers, would be opposed from within his own party, Mr Rutledge said. Mr Rutledge said Trump supporters would probably be disillusioned if their hopes for change were not realised.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 10, 2016 17:03 UTC