Republican Donald Trump on Thursday said he would accept a “clear” election result but reserved the right to file a legal challenge, clarifying his stance a day after he refused to promise he would trust the outcome if he loses on 8 November.
The Republican candidate reinforced his comment at a rally in Delaware, Ohio, on Thursday, saying he would respect the result “if I win.”
“Of course, I would accept a clear election result, but I would also reserve my right to contest or file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable result,” Trump said at a rally in Ohio. Asked on Wednesday at his final debate with Democrat Hillary Clinton if he would accept a losing outcome, Trump said he would “keep you in suspense.”
Trump’s Stance Deepens Rifts in Republican Party
Trump’s earlier stance on Wednesday on election results has deepened rifts in Republican Party.
Several prominent Republicans on Thursday denounced Donald Trump’s refusal to commit to accepting the result of the presidential election, and some worried his stance might make it more difficult for his party to hold onto control of Congress.
Trump’s refusal, which Democratic rival Hillary Clinton called “horrifying,” was the standout remark of their third and final debate on Wednesday night. It ratcheted up Trump’s claims that the election was being rigged against him, and became the latest flashpoint in an unusually volatile race three weeks before voters go to the polls.
With Trump trailing in opinion polls, the focus ahead of the 8 November vote is shifting to Congress, and whether Republicans will keep their narrow majority in the Senate or even their larger advantage in the House of Representatives.
Accepting Results is the “American Way”
Senator John McCain of Arizona, who lost the 2008 presidential election to Democrat Barack Obama, issued a strong statement saying that accepting the election result is “the American way”
“I didn’t like the outcome of the 2008 election. But I had a duty to concede, and I did so without reluctance,” said McCain, who has opened a poll lead in his Senate re-election race. “A concession isn’t just an exercise in graciousness. It is an act of respect for the will of the American people, a respect that is every American leader’s first responsibility.”
A few other Republicans, mostly those who have never backed Trump, also rejected his comments. Aides to House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined requests for comment.
Some Defend Trump
Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway on Thursday tried to defend Trump, saying in television interviews he was “putting people on notice” about voting irregularities.
“We’ll have to see what happens,” she told ABC News, adding that Trump “was willing to accept the election absent widespread fraud.”
Trump has stepped up allegations that the election is being rigged. He has not offered specific evidence, and numerous studies have shown that the US election system, which is decentralized and run by the states, is sound.
Trump's vice presidential running mate, Governor Mike Pence of Indiana, said Trump “will accept the outcome” because he is going to win.
(This article has been published in arrangement with Reuters and has been cut for length.)
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