presidential debate usa
Trump mocks critics of his refusal to say he'd honor election results
LAS VEGAS — The presidential candidates ended their series of three debates with one candidate questioning the very legitimacy of the election should he lose.
Maintaining his claims that the Hillary Clinton campaign and the "dishonest media" are conspiring to "rig" the election against him through vote fraud and biased reporting, Trump told supporters in Delaware, Ohio, that "we want fairness in the election. ... Don't be naïve, folks. Don't be naïve."
Similar comments by Trump during Wednesday's debate drew criticism from members of both political parties, who noted that the Republican nominee has no evidence to back his claims of voter fraud, especially before Election Day on Nov. 8.
"That was the big shocker of the evening," Clinton's running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine , told CBS This Morning the day after the candidates faced off in their third and final debate in Las Vegas.
Trump is claiming a rigged election because "he knows that he's losing," Kaine said, and "he just doesn't know how to take responsibility."
Trump aides said he was referring to real concerns about voter fraud as well as what they called biased news coverage against the New York businessman.
"He’s saying that until the results are actually known, certified and verified, he’s not going to concede an election," Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway said on ABC's Good Morning America. "He just doesn’t know what will happen."
In Ohio, Trump told supporters that "the bottom line is we're going to win." Trump also said that he would "accept a clear election result," but he would also "reserve my right to contest or file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable result."
The key moment in Wednesday's debate came when moderator Chris Wallace asked Trump about his rigging allegations, and whether he would accept the results of the election.
"I will look at it at the time," Trump replied, citing the "corrupt media," claims — without evidence — that millions of people are registered to vote who shouldn't be, and his contention that Clinton "shouldn't be allowed to run" for president "based on what she did with emails and so many other things."
Asked again about the American tradition in which the loser of an election concedes to the winner in order to effect a peaceful transfer of power, Trump said: "What I'm saying is that I will tell you at the time. I'll keep you in suspense. OK?"
Clinton called Trump's answer "horrifying" and added that "every time Donald thinks things are not going in his direction, he claims whatever it is, is rigged against him."
Several sharp personal exchanges punctuated a debate otherwise devoted to issues like the Supreme Court, immigration and foreign policy.
When Clinton knocked Trump's efforts to avoid paying federal income tax, the Republican nominee interjected with the comment "such a nasty woman."
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