The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Trump’s threat to challenge election result
Party says it will ‘respect the will of the people’
Donald Trump has threatened to challenge the result of the US presidential election if it is “questionable”, although he teasingly promised to embrace the outcome “if I win”.
The Republican presidential nominee said he would accept “a clear election result” but was reserving his right to “contest or file a legal challenge” if he loses.
It was his first bid to explain a warning a day earlier in the final debate that he may not accept the result.
Mr Trump brushed off the likelihood of that happening with a confident prediction that “we’re not going to lose”.
Speaking at a rally in Delaware, Ohio, he said: “I would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election.” But he added: “If I win.”
Mr Trump’s musings about hypothetical election day scenarios came as his campaign was reeling from widespread astonishment over his refusal to commit to the time-honoured American tradition of the election’s loser acceding gracefully to the winner.
Mr Trump has warned repeatedly of impending, widespread voter fraud, despite no evidence to support him and plenty of evidence to the contrary.
Asked at the debate whether he would accept the outcome, Mr Trump said: “I will tell you at the time. I will keep you in suspense.”
That sent immediate shockwaves through the campaign, as Mr Trump’s supporters tried to soften his remarks and fellow Republicans sought more distance from their nominee.
The distraction deprived Mr Trump of the comeback moment he sorely needed, despite a sometimes more measured and poised performance in Wednesday’s third and final debate.
The Republican National Committee was put in the remarkable position of disputing its own candidate, with a spokesman saying the party would “respect the will of the people”.