Clinton camp preparing for possibility Trump won’t concede
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton pointed to the crowd while speaking at a rally at Cuyahoga Community College in Cleveland today.
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. >> Hillary Clinton’s campaign is increasingly preparing for the possibility that Donald Trump may never concede the presidential election should she win, a development that could enormously complicate the crucial early weeks of her preparations to take office.
Aiming to undermine any argument the Republican nominee may make about a “rigged” election, she hopes to roll up a large electoral vote margin in next month’s election. That could repudiate the New York billionaire’s message and project a governing mandate after the bitter, divisive presidential race.
Clinton’s team is also keeping a close eye on statements by national Republican leaders, predicting they could play an important role in how Trump’s accusations of electoral fraud might be perceived. That’s according to several Clinton campaign aides, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss internal strategy.
Campaign officials stress they are not taking the outcome of the election for granted. But Clinton and her team have begun thinking about how to position their candidate during the postelection period. Long one of the country’s most polarizing political figures, Clinton has begun telling audiences she’ll need their help in healing the country.
“I’ve got to figure out how we heal these divides,” she said in a Friday interview with a Tampa radio station WBTP. “We’ve got to get together. Maybe that’s a role that is meant to be for my presidency if I’m so fortunate to be there.”
A refusal by Trump to accept the election results would not only upend a basic tenet of American democracy, but also force Clinton to create a new playbook for handling the transfer of power. And a narrow victory would make it more difficult for her to claim substantial political capital at the start of her administration.
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“Donald is still going to whine if he loses. But if the mandate is clear, I don’t think many people will follow him,” said Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, Clinton’s running mate, in an interview Thursday with CNN’s “New Day.”
While Clinton’s campaign has long focused on maintaining pathways to cross the threshold of 270 electoral votes, it’s now looking to capture an expanded number of states that could also help determine control of the Senate — including Republican-leaning Arizona.
Polls indicate that Clinton has extended her advantage in several toss-up states during the three fall debates, giving her campaign more confidence. She has maintained stable leads in states such as Pennsylvania, Virginia and Colorado, as well as a narrow edge in Florida and North Carolina.
“They’re looking at it like this: We’ve got these doors of opportunity open, let’s make sure we go down all of them,’” said Jeremy Bird, the national field director for President Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign who is helping Clinton’s team.
If Clinton wins the White House, she will enter as one of the least popular first-term presidents in generations. While Trump has suffered from high unfavorable ratings, particularly among women, Clinton has been hampered by polls showing more than half of the public considers her to be untrustworthy.
Some Republicans are already preparing for Trump’s defeat, downplaying the significance of a Clinton triumph.
“On Nov 8, Clinton’s claims of a mandate will fly in the face of reality. She only won by not being Trump,” tweeted conservative writer Erick Erickson. Rolling up a big victory in the Electoral College would let Clinton push back against that notion and assert that voters had rejected what she has called Trump’s mean, divisive message.
In a race against Trump and independents Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, Clinton may struggle to reach 50 percent of the vote. But competing in states such as Arizona and pushing for Senate victories in Missouri and Indiana might help Democrats in their quest to recapture the Senate and give her a better chance of surpassing Obama’s 332 electoral votes in the 2012 campaign.
Clinton’s campaign is making a significant push in Arizona, which offers 11 electoral votes and has stayed in the Republican column in all but one presidential election since 1952. Bill Clinton was the last Democrat to carry the state, in 1996.
First lady Michelle Obama courted voters in Phoenix on Thursday, following appearances by Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and the Clintons’ daughter, Chelsea Clinton. The campaign is spending $2 million in advertising and toying with sending Clinton herself there before Election Day.
“I think it’s clear that Hillary Clinton has a chance to win Arizona just like her husband did 20 years ago,” said Rodd McLeod, a Phoenix-based Democratic strategist who helped Clinton’s campaign during the primary.
Two other Republican-leaning states could prove tempting.
Georgia, which has had an influx of diverse voters in the Atlanta area, is considered a future battleground state, with many Democrats comparing it to North Carolina.
Utah overwhelmingly supported Mitt Romney, the nation’s first Mormon presidential nominee, with more than 72 percent in 2012. But many of the state’s Republicans have abandoned Trump and polls show Clinton and Trump in a tight contest against independent Evan McMullin, a conservative former CIA officer who graduated from Brigham Young University.
If McMullin captures Utah, he will be the first independent presidential candidate to win electoral votes since George Wallace in 1968.
47 responses to “Clinton camp preparing for possibility Trump won’t concede”
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Just heard that they are trying to extradite Wikileaks J. Assange for sexual assaults of 2 women in Sweden. Now I know why he idolizes Donald Trump.
That’s nothing new, that’s the whole reason he is holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in the first place
We are all voting Hillary. Trump is a disaster and an embarrassment to America.
Yes the Donald is an embarrassment but he was entertaining. lol
I am still concerned about Hillary’s hawkish positions though so I just might vote for sweet Jill.
Just heard Assange has a contingency plan in place to keep the leaks coming after he is arrested. Not that it matters. The media only reports things that harm Trump.
Correct, those email leaks don’t matter. So far, they’ve only revealed the usual behind-the-scenes discussion, an occasional back-biting comment, strategizing on language choices, an occasional hypocritical remark (which all politicians use, including Donald J Trump).
If you stopped letting those biased websites and news sources control your thinking, you’d see why the mainstream media doesn’t make a huge deal about Hillary’s careless use of a private server, the absolutely clean Clinton Foundation, and the admittedly hazy Benghazi story. After millions of dollars and everyone’s time wasted, NOTHING incriminating has been found.
Why does the mainstream media cover Trump’s controversial, ridiculous, attention-begging comments daily? Because he makes controversial, ridiculous, attention-begging comments daily! Do you understand that?
I’m sure you’ve got a rational explanation for the two gentlemen who were forced to step down after getting caught detailing how they planned to disrupt Trump rallies using homeless and mentally unbalanced people. One of the gentlemen was even a frequent visitor to Barry Hussein’s WH. It seems they were old Chicago machine buddies. Community organizer I believe is the term. And if the Benghazi incident was just a big misunderstanding why did Barry Hussein, Ms. Rice and Hillary knowingly advance the lie that a Youtube video sparked the attack? You’ve got a lot of explaining to do mister.
What’s there to explain? Elections have consequences. It’s all about winning and keeping our supreme party in position to best serve our nation. The USA has never been so great as it has been these last 8 years. Finally, we are coming around.
Why does the mainstream media cover Trump’s controversial, ridiculous, attention-begging comments daily? Because he makes controversial, ridiculous, attention-begging comments daily!
Do you understand that?
Really, Clinton is premature and insulting.
Really, Clinton is mature and insulating. (Just balancing your comment so SA readers don’t become biased. I’m ready to counter your next premature and insulting comment…)
She’s”insulating” ? Than can we put her up in the attic and forget about her? Keep us warm on those chilly nights.
This article is a joke about a hypothetical that does not exist. Just like Clinton cries about “trickle down economics” when no such school of Econ exists.
Trickle down economics are gospel to the GOP. 1st brought into play by Ron Reagan, I believe.
No Air, trickle down economics go back far before Uncle Ron but he practiced it with a vengeance. It was Uncle Ron’s VP, Papa Bush who labeled it Voodoo economics. Perhaps this was the best thing Papa Bush ever did. lol
Today it seems that is all what republicans preach. A pity.
just word-playing on justmyview’s incoherent comment but since you asked, insulating in that she will provide a security, economic, and socially-equitable blanket I can snuggle into. It’s a YUUUGE blanket so you’re free to join but keep your hands to yourself.
Not sure what’s so hypothetical about the article as it just reports on what Trump stated…
What does “premature” mean?
How can any Trump fan accuse anyone else of being “insulting?”
Who is the most insulting politician? Right, Donald J Trump.
This looks like it is going to be a blow out so what’s the problem? If Hillary gets well over 350 electoral votes, who cares if the Donald concedes? He will just be known as the loser.
And what transfer of power? The Donald will not be involved in any transfer of power unless he somehow pulls the upset of the century. Transfer of power will be between Obama and sweet Hillary.
If he manages to win he’ll deny that he has any responsibility to carry out the duties of the president.
Nice that the articles now are about “will he concede?”, not about “what if he wins?” or “is this the end of the world?”
That is true. It is just unbelievable that republicans voted for this clown. What were they thinking? They probably will suffer their worst loss ever which is good. The party of No, needs to be taken down.
Aren’t they already planning for this transfer now ??
Both camps need to have transition teams in place because the time. From the end of the election to the inauguration is relatively short.
It’s not necessary for a candidate to concede, but it does make things a lot easier in states that have vote counts within the statutory margin for automatic recounts. Still. it’s probably a good idea for state election officials to prepare plans for dealing with Mr. Trump’s profound mental illness and erratic behavior. The loss coming his way will be too large for him to lie away like he lies away everything else, so preparing now is a good idea.
In the end, there’s nothing Mr. Trump can do other than stamp his feet in a tantrum. Good luck to him with that. He’s already destroyed his brand, except with people who can’t afford what he sells.
One saving grace is that Mr. Trump has a lot of experience with failure. Decades of it. So November 8th won’t be a first for him.
I hear he’s sub-contracted “Weird Al” Gore to to teach him how to contest the election. Unfortunately for Weird Al he did not prevail. GW Bush spanked him hard.
Wait– Al Gore conceded after the court decision in the interest of democracy he said. Remember he won the popular vote. Trump is saying the election is rigged and media is rigged and he will not concede. His followers believe this and will believe him if he says he is the true President of the people. The country will be split and we will end up going the way of countries that cannot have peaceful transition.
No- Duhbya didn’t spank anyone- he barely squeaked by- that’s why there was controversy. And news flash: he actually lost.
Of course I meant a figurative spanking not a literal one, get your mind out of the gutter. Sheesh!
Mr. Bush, of course, did no such thing. The Supreme Court stopped the Florida recount. Can you ever write truthfully? About anything?
Mr. Gore received more popular votes than Mr. Bush, and the recount in Florida was mandatory because of how close it was.
If you think that is at all analogous to what’s happening this year, you know even less than I thought you did. And that’s saying something.
IRT Klastri, and Mr. Trump gains the majority of the electoral college votes to become President of the United States. Yes, there are a number of winning combinations of toss up States for Mr. Trump to win. And, same for Ms Hillary. Most concerning for Ms Hillary’s campaign and the DNC are which way the Sanders supporters, the Americans of African ancestry, the Americans of Hispanic ancestry, and the educated women will vote. The releases from WikiLeaks are beginning to hurt. Most voters have made up their minds and critical is turn out. With only 18 calendar days remaining, those votes continue to be a challenge for Ms Clinton to hold.
Trump can’t do crap about the “rigged system”. So what if you’ve caught us committing voter fraud. This has been going on for decades. We have the media on our side and there ain’t a single thing you can do about that. Cannot believe that only now have you donkeys finally caught on. But guess what, we are two steps ahead of you and have already ensured we will continue to hold the highest office in this “our” great nation for generations to come. Now go away.
Trump will be telling his sup porters to monitor the elections with their 2nd Amendments rights.
kuroiwaj – There is virtually no change of Mr. Trump winning. You made all of this up.
Mr. Trump is going to lose in a spectacular landslide.
The facts are what they are. Get ready for President Hillary Clinton.
Dear Red States:
We’re ticked off at the way you’ve treated California and we’ve decided we’re leaving. We intend to form our own country and we’re taking the other Blue States with us.
In case you aren’t aware that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast.
You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states.
We get stem cell research and the best beaches.
We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ole’ Miss.
We get 87 percent of America’s venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama.
We get over two-thirds of the tax revenue. You get to make the red states
pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 23 percent lower than the Christian Coalition’s we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.
With the Blue States in hand we will have firm control of 80% of the country’s fresh water, more than 90% of the pineapple and lettuce, 92% of the nation’s fresh fruit, 95% of America’s quality wines (you can serve French wines at state dinners) 90% of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the US low sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven
Sister schools plus Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.
With the Red States you will have to cope with 88% of all obese Americans and their projected health care costs, 92% of all US mosquitoes, nearly 100% of the tornadoes, 90% of the hurricanes, 99% of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100% of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia.
We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.
38% of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62% believe life is sacred unless we’re discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44% say that evolution is only a theory, 53% that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61% of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals then we lefties.
We’re taking the good pot too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.
A hypothetical communication to red America. quora
Wassup SA?
Nice.
Mark this date folks. It’s the date when Ike officially lost his mind. He had just laid out the superiority of the Blue States in no uncertain terms. Trouble is he’s hooked on reruns of the Dukes of Hazard, it’s his “guilty pleasure”. He’s lovin’ him some Daisy Duke cut-off jeans and has a plastic model of the General Lee on his nightstand.
As long as you keep HOLLYWOOD and we get NASCAR, it sounds like a great idea to me. LOL
Great, then move.
HRC said she will not add a single penny to the national debt. Finally we can stop passing the buck to our children and their children.
Are you serious? Anything HRC would do if elected President will add billions to the national debt.
As if the Donald wouldn’t? lol Face it building a 50 ft. wall along the border while increasing the military industrial complex and giving tax cuts to the rich is not going to result in balanced budgets. Can you at least acknowledge this?
What? You mean you can’t do sneaky stuff and just people to lay down and take it? Kinda the reason I’m voting for him.
The question is will she concede?
Corrupt Clinton can’t unite this country. People are SICK of the DOUBLE STANDARD and CORRUPTION in DC.
It will be difficult for her to unite this country but that is primarily because republicans today are so emotional and devoid of logic. It is a shame they no longer care about what is best for America. They are only interested in tax cuts for the filthy rich. A pity.
if the clinton campaign and the dnc had a shred of honesty, trump wouldn’t have to take his position. she is an embarrassment to our country and a danger to us all. he just hurts people’s feelings. grow up and get over it.
she endangers american security with her arrogant disregard for national security by sharing of classified information. she is a danger to human life by believing its ok to execute unwanted children simply because they are inconvenient and dangerous to law abiding citizens by not allowing homeowners to protect their families from intruders.
those who support her should wake up and stop drinking her koolaid before they too have lost all their liberties. trump has his flaws, but she is criminally dangerous and unfit to be a politician at any level.