James Antle of the Washington Examiner gauges Republican interest in supporting President Trump’s potential legal fight over ballots.
President Trump vowed to fight on as contested battleground states were declared for Democratic challenger Joe Biden, and many Republicans were ready to man the barricades with him as long as there remain legal options to pursue.
“President Trump should not concede under any circumstances until we know the final and fair vote tally in each of these critically close states,” said conservative strategist Chris Barron. “We elected Trump because he is a fighter — for far too long, Democrats would fight like hell after elections to make sure their votes were counted, while spineless Republicans simply whimpered away. If, for some reason, Trump comes up short, he should immediately announce his intention to run again in 2024.”
“I think Trump has to explore every legal angle and contest every vote that he can,” said Republican strategist John Feehery. “Not just because he thought he won, but also because his voters think he won. Transparency is about the only thing that will help the country to move forward.”
Trump supporters went to sleep across the country with the president leading in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, the trifecta of Upper Midwestern states that tore down the blue wall and secured his Electoral College majority in 2016. When they awoke, it was all slipping away. Wisconsin and Michigan were called for Biden on Wednesday.
The Trump campaign has now filed lawsuits against Michigan and Pennsylvania while requesting a recount in Wisconsin. “We are declaring a victory in Pennsylvania,” Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien told reporters on a Wednesday afternoon conference call. “Democrats are scheming to disenfranchise and dilute Republican votes,” deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said in a statement. “President Trump and his team are fighting to put a stop to it.”