A thunderous roar erupted as the next governor of Virginia walked onto the stage.

"All righty, Virginia, we won this thing," declared Republican Glenn Youngkin to a crowd of rapturous supporters in the early hours of Wednesday morning. 

For President Joe Biden and the Democrat party, the result was a shocking blow. "Biden's presidency is in crisis," announced one British newspaper. 

Republicans rejoiced. Many believe the "stunning upsetA shock result in a vote, particularly when an underdog wins." is a sign the party could regain control of Congress in next year's elections. This is a "wake up call for Sleepy Joe," declared the Daily Mail.

One man was quick to take credit. "I would like to thank my BASE for coming out in force and voting for Glenn Youngkin," wrote Donald Trump. "The MAGA movement is bigger and stronger than ever before. Without you, he would not have been close to winning."

Across the country, his supporters hailed a clear sign: Donald Trump will likely stand again to be President.

Is this outlandish? Here are seven key reasons why Trump could win in 2024: 

1. People power. Donald Trump has a huge base. Nearly 75 million people voted for him in 2020. Polls of Republicans show Trump is their favourite for 2024.

2. No clear Republican rival. In 2016, Trump won despite nearly unanimousAgreed upon by everybody. opposition within his party. In 2024, the party will be loyal. Several senior Republicans have said they will stand aside if Trump runs.

3. "Reverse the steal". Approximately 35% of Americans incorrectly believe Biden's 2020 victory was illegitimate. The myth of election fraud looms large. Trump urged officials to "stop the steal" in 2020. In 2024, "reverse the steal" could be a compelling appeal.

4. Truth Social. Trump announced plans to set up his own social media site. On Truth Social, he could send a stream of messages to his supporters and enjoy the digital presence he had before he was barred from Twitter and Facebook. 

5. Money talks. With three years to go, Donald Trump has raised more than $28m (£20m). He is also a wealthy man. Other candidates may not have the resources. 

6. Legal incentive. Trump is facing legal battles. As president, he can pardon himself for federal crimes. This is a major incentive.

7. Weak opposition. Joe Biden will be 82 before Inauguration Day 2025. Many may conclude he is too old. 

Others say there are major hurdles preventing a second Trump presidency. He was the first president to be impeachedIn the USA, formally accusing a public official of misconduct whilst in office. Three presidents - Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump - have been impeached by the House of Representatives. In all three cases, the Senate voted not to remove them. twice, was accused of inciting an insurrectionA violent uprising against a government., suggested injecting disinfectantTrump suggested in a press conference that injecting disinfectant could treat coronavirus.  and told an average of 21 lies per day.

"The Trump years were not just a hallucination," wrote one American editor. "But chances are they will soon come to feel like they were." 

Yes. Donald Trump holds a vice-like grip on the Republican party. His ego will not allow him to stand aside. With the support of his army, he could easily sail to victory.

No. A survey of presidential historians declared him one of the worst US presidents. The American people have roundly rejected Trump. He lost the popular vote twice. And Trump cannot bear to lose - he will not run the risk again.