talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Trump Campaign Fumbles For Excuse To Put A Stop To PA Vote Counting

The Trump campaign is frantically searching for ways to claim victory in Pennsylvania before all the votes are counted .
On a call with reporters on Wednesday , Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien said the campaign was “ declaring a victory in Pennsylvania.
” Stepien went on to say that the campaign had sent the heavy artillery in the form of Rudy Giuliani to Philadelphia as part of a bid to stop Gov .
Tom Wolf ( D ) from sending “ magical ballots ” to presumably corrupt the election .
Trump and his surrogates have been claiming , falsely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ steal ” the election , when in fact officials are counting legitimately cast ballots .
As they do so , the tally is drifting toward Biden .
The campaign has sued for a temporary stop to ballot-counting in Pennsylvania , and filed a motion at the Supreme Court to invalidate ballots that arrived on Nov. 4 and after .
Biden is trailing Trump by 326,000 votes in the Keystone State with 85 percent of ballots counted , according to the AP .
The outstanding ballots are mostly mail-in votes from Democratic areas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the call was Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller , who echoed the fear of “ magical ballots ” before adding that Trump ’ s re-election effort had a serious task before it : prevent a repeat of the 1960 Presidential election , where , in the annals of right-wing mythology , Chicago Mayor Richard Daley marshaled thousands of dead voters to swing Illinois for JFK against Richard Nixon , robbing him of the presidency the first time around .
There was no evidence to support any of this , and a planned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eric Trump , Lara Trump , Corey Lewandowski , and Pam Bondi was delayed .
But Stepien ’ s statement did trigger a coordinated flood of announcements from Trumpworld that the campaign had won Pennsylvania which it , in fact , has not .

The Trump campaign is frantically searching for ways to claim victory in Pennsylvania before all the votes are counted.
On a call with reporters on Wednesday, Trump Campaign Manager Bill Stepien said the campaign was “declaring a victory in Pennsylvania.”
Stepien went on to say that the campaign had sent the heavy artillery in the form of Rudy Giuliani to Philadelphia as part of a bid to stop Gov. Tom Wolf (D) from sending “magical ballots” to presumably corrupt the election.
Trump and his surrogates have been claiming, falsely, that Democrats are trying to somehow “steal” the election, when in fact officials are counting legitimately cast ballots. As they do so, the tally is drifting toward Biden. The campaign has sued for a temporary stop to ballot-counting in Pennsylvania, and filed a motion at the Supreme Court to invalidate ballots that arrived on Nov. 4 and after.
Biden is trailing Trump by 326,000 votes in the Keystone State with 85 percent of ballots counted, according to the AP. The outstanding ballots are mostly mail-in votes from Democratic areas, state officials have said.
Also on the call was Trump campaign adviser Jason Miller, who echoed the fear of “magical ballots” before adding that Trump’s re-election effort had a serious task before it: prevent a repeat of the 1960 Presidential election, where, in the annals of right-wing mythology, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley marshaled thousands of dead voters to swing Illinois for JFK against Richard Nixon, robbing him of the presidency the first time around.
There was no evidence to support any of this, and a planned press conference in Philadelphia with Giuliani, Eric Trump, Lara Trump, Corey Lewandowski, and Pam Bondi was delayed.
But Stepien’s statement did trigger a coordinated flood of announcements from Trumpworld that the campaign had won Pennsylvania which it, in fact, has not.
We have won Pennsylvania! — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 4, 2020


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Flailing Trump Campaign Files Lawsuit To Try To Stop Michigan Vote Counting

The Trump campaign filed a lawsuit Wednesday attempting to stop the vote counting in Michigan , claiming it did not @ @ @ @ @ where the ballots are being tallied .
As President Donald Trump has slipped behind former @ @ @ @ @ key states , he has responded by trying to stop the count in Michigan and @ @ @ @ @ a recount in Wisconsin .
The lawsuit asks specifically that the counting of absentee ballots @ @ @ @ @ — be halted while the campaign ’ s qualms about the observation procedures are heard @ @ @ @ @ submitted via drop box , claiming that election procedures had been violated because a poll @ @ @ @ @ watch video surveillance of those ballots being submitted .
Shortly after the lawsuit made it @ @ @ @ @ s docket , several networks announced that they were projecting Biden to win the state @ @ @ @ @ emergency motion here :

The Trump campaign filed a lawsuit Wednesday attempting to stop the vote counting in Michigan, claiming it did not have access to the sites where the ballots are being tallied.
As President Donald Trump has slipped behind former Vice President Joe Biden in key states, he has responded by trying to stop the count in Michigan and Pennsylvania, and by requesting a recount in Wisconsin.
The lawsuit asks specifically that the counting of absentee ballots — which lean towards Biden — be halted while the campaign’s qualms about the observation procedures are heard. It targets absentee ballots submitted via drop box, claiming that election procedures had been violated because a poll worker was not allowed to watch video surveillance of those ballots being submitted.
Shortly after the lawsuit made it to the Michigan court’s docket, several networks announced that they were projecting Biden to win the state.
Read the complaint and emergency motion here:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Without A Blue Senate, A Pres. Biden Would Have To Dramatically Adjust His Expectations

As Democrats watched their opportunities to take back the Senate evaporate one by one Tuesday night , an increasingly likely future came into focus : President Joe Biden could take the White House , but Sen. Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) would keep hold of the Senate .
Biden doesn ’ t have the White House locked down quite yet , though he appears to have bagged Wisconsin and Arizona , and the outstanding vote in Michigan looks encouraging for him .
Pennsylvania and maybe even Georgia may come through as well .
And Democrats could maybe , possibly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in North Carolina and Maine by pushing the second Georgia Senate race to a January runoff like the first , and over-performing in the final round of both .
But from the viewpoint of Wednesday afternoon , a White House-Senate split looks likely .
That ’ s bad news for Democrats who dreamed of a Biden presidency with a robust , lasting legacy .
The View From Here “ We ’ re still waiting for final numbers , but based on what I ’ ve seen so far , it ’ s gon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much of the progressive wishlist out there through the Senate anytime soon , ” Jim Manley , former spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Senate Democratic caucus , told TPM .
“ Obviously they ’ re gon na try , but if anyone thinks Mitch McConnell is gon na be willing to compromise , they need to get their head examined.
” Just days ago , bolstered by what now looks like over-optimistic polling projecting a Democratic majority in the Senate , many veterans of the chamber and progressive groups @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elimination of the filibuster .
With that institutional barrier hypothetically dismantled , reformers ’ heads were filled with visions of democratic and voting reforms , climate change legislation , health care expansion .
Now , they ’ re predicting four years of obstruction at the hands of McConnell and the GOP , where Democrats may have to woo a few Republicans every time they want to get anything done .
“ President Biden would likely try to mount a charm offensive to win over the few Republican Senators who pass for moderate these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little influence in their increasingly right-wing caucus , ” Bill Dauster , Reid ’ s former deputy chief of staff and a 30-year Senate veteran , told TPM .
If Senate Republicans refuse to cooperate — they made obstinance their trademark during the Obama years — President Biden would have to get creative .
He ’ d likely have to make ample use of executive orders , as Obama did , and do so very carefully to avoid his actions being challenged and sent up to the now-extremely conservative Supreme Court .
Dauster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overseas , to repair some of the damage done by Trump in an arena less hindered by a hostile Republican caucus .
But those are scant silver linings compared to the prospect of the House-Senate-White House juggernaut Democrats were salivating over just days ago .
“ The Senate , ” Dauster predicted , “ would continue to be the place where good ideas go to die.
” Going into Election Day , polls looked good for Democrats and models interpreting them from both FiveThirtyEight and The Economist had the party ’ s chances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Candidates like Democrats Cal Cunningham in North Carolina and Sara Gideon in Maine were slight favorites to topple the Republican incumbents , smoothing Democrats ’ easiest path to a four-seat pickup .
( Even the wide-eyed and hopeful Democrats of Monday predicted Alabama Sen. Doug Collins ’ loss . )
Those prospects soured relatively early Tuesday night , as Cunningham cratered in North Carolina .
Maine dragged out a little longer , with Gideon conceding to Sen. Susan Collins ( R-ME ) , one of the Democrats ’ top targets , Wednesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ triumphed in Iowa and Montana , essentially tearing down Democrats ’ safety net .
Democrats did flip seats in Colorado and Arizona , so far collecting a net yield of one seat .
These results , so baffling to Democrats confident in winning at least a bare majority earlier this week , may just be a byproduct of one simple factor : President Donald Trump exceeded expectations , said Kyle Kondik , managing editor of Sabato ’ s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia .
“ Trump ended up doing fine in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that was more than enough for the reach targets to win , ” he told TPM .
“ In the end , the map reverted to the key races that we ’ ve been looking at for much of the whole cycle — Arizona , Colorado , Maine , and North Carolina .
It seemed like Democrats had to sweep these to win , and it appears that they will fall short.
” With Trump running well enough ahead in those red states , Democrats would have to put their hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the President at the top but temper that pick by opting for the Democratic Senate challenger down below .
There was hope that the electorate might follow Montana ’ s quirky example from 2016 , when the state reelected Gov .
Steve Bullock ( D ) while going for Trump in huge numbers in 2016 .
But ticket-splitters , like anti-Trump Republicans and compromising senators , are a dying breed .
“ Fewer voters now split their tickets than once did , ” Molly Reynolds , a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in general , where goes the top of the ticket goes the bottom .
And when there is ticket-splitting , she added , it ’ s usually done by politically informed voters when they expect one party to win the presidency .
“ So , this year , we may have seen some politically informed voters expect that Biden would win and then vote for Republican Senate candidates down ballot , ” she said .
“ This would help explain , for example , what seems to be happening in Maine.
” Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent vote margin , while Collins retained her seat .
But whatever the ultimate diagnosis of Democrats ’ likely great swing and miss at recapturing the Senate , the future with Biden in the White House and McConnell leading the Senate would be much easier to divine .
“ President Biden ’ s election would provide a welcome relief from the daily trauma of President Trump ’ s tenure , ” Dauster said , “ but without a cooperative Senate , the Biden Presidency would likely fall short of the hopes that progressives @ @ @ @ @ @

As Democrats watched their opportunities to take back the Senate evaporate one by one Tuesday night, an increasingly likely future came into focus: President Joe Biden could take the White House, but Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would keep hold of the Senate.
Biden doesn’t have the White House locked down quite yet, though he appears to have bagged Wisconsin and Arizona, and the outstanding vote in Michigan looks encouraging for him. Pennsylvania and maybe even Georgia may come through as well. And Democrats could maybe, possibly, conceivably counterbalance big, likely Senate losses in North Carolina and Maine by pushing the second Georgia Senate race to a January runoff like the first, and over-performing in the final round of both.
But from the viewpoint of Wednesday afternoon, a White House-Senate split looks likely. That’s bad news for Democrats who dreamed of a Biden presidency with a robust, lasting legacy.
The View From Here
“We’re still waiting for final numbers, but based on what I’ve seen so far, it’s gonna be very difficult to imagine getting much of the progressive wishlist out there through the Senate anytime soon,” Jim Manley, former spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and the Senate Democratic caucus, told TPM. “Obviously they’re gonna try, but if anyone thinks Mitch McConnell is gonna be willing to compromise, they need to get their head examined.”
Just days ago, bolstered by what now looks like over-optimistic polling projecting a Democratic majority in the Senate, many veterans of the chamber and progressive groups alike were laser-focused on advocating for the elimination of the filibuster. With that institutional barrier hypothetically dismantled, reformers’ heads were filled with visions of democratic and voting reforms, climate change legislation, health care expansion.
Now, they’re predicting four years of obstruction at the hands of McConnell and the GOP, where Democrats may have to woo a few Republicans every time they want to get anything done.
“President Biden would likely try to mount a charm offensive to win over the few Republican Senators who pass for moderate these days, but those so-called moderates have little influence in their increasingly right-wing caucus,” Bill Dauster, Reid’s former deputy chief of staff and a 30-year Senate veteran, told TPM.
If Senate Republicans refuse to cooperate — they made obstinance their trademark during the Obama years — President Biden would have to get creative.
He’d likely have to make ample use of executive orders, as Obama did, and do so very carefully to avoid his actions being challenged and sent up to the now-extremely conservative Supreme Court. Dauster suggested that Biden may turn his attention overseas, to repair some of the damage done by Trump in an arena less hindered by a hostile Republican caucus.
But those are scant silver linings compared to the prospect of the House-Senate-White House juggernaut Democrats were salivating over just days ago.
“The Senate,” Dauster predicted, “would continue to be the place where good ideas go to die.”
What Went Wrong
Going into Election Day, polls looked good for Democrats and models interpreting them from both FiveThirtyEight and The Economist had the party’s chances of winning the Senate above 70 percent. Candidates like Democrats Cal Cunningham in North Carolina and Sara Gideon in Maine were slight favorites to topple the Republican incumbents, smoothing Democrats’ easiest path to a four-seat pickup. (Even the wide-eyed and hopeful Democrats of Monday predicted Alabama Sen. Doug Collins’ loss.)
Those prospects soured relatively early Tuesday night, as Cunningham cratered in North Carolina. Maine dragged out a little longer, with Gideon conceding to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), one of the Democrats’ top targets, Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the Republican incumbents triumphed in Iowa and Montana, essentially tearing down Democrats’ safety net. Democrats did flip seats in Colorado and Arizona, so far collecting a net yield of one seat.
These results, so baffling to Democrats confident in winning at least a bare majority earlier this week, may just be a byproduct of one simple factor: President Donald Trump exceeded expectations, said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia.
“Trump ended up doing fine in the red states that had Senate races, and that was more than enough for the reach targets to win,” he told TPM. “In the end, the map reverted to the key races that we’ve been looking at for much of the whole cycle — Arizona, Colorado, Maine, and North Carolina. It seemed like Democrats had to sweep these to win, and it appears that they will fall short.”
With Trump running well enough ahead in those red states, Democrats would have to put their hopes in ticket-splitting voters, who might choose the President at the top but temper that pick by opting for the Democratic Senate challenger down below. There was hope that the electorate might follow Montana’s quirky example from 2016, when the state reelected Gov. Steve Bullock (D) while going for Trump in huge numbers in 2016.
But ticket-splitters, like anti-Trump Republicans and compromising senators, are a dying breed.
“Fewer voters now split their tickets than once did,” Molly Reynolds, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute, told TPM. That means that in general, where goes the top of the ticket goes the bottom.
And when there is ticket-splitting, she added, it’s usually done by politically informed voters when they expect one party to win the presidency.
“So, this year, we may have seen some politically informed voters expect that Biden would win and then vote for Republican Senate candidates down ballot,” she said. “This would help explain, for example, what seems to be happening in Maine.” Biden easily scooped up Maine with a nine percent vote margin, while Collins retained her seat.
But whatever the ultimate diagnosis of Democrats’ likely great swing and miss at recapturing the Senate, the future with Biden in the White House and McConnell leading the Senate would be much easier to divine.
“President Biden’s election would provide a welcome relief from the daily trauma of President Trump’s tenure,” Dauster said, “but without a cooperative Senate, the Biden Presidency would likely fall short of the hopes that progressives had for real change.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Trump Camp Lays Out Play To Disrupt Count In PA, Including SCOTUS Bid

The Trump campaign says it ’ s launching an aggressive , multi-front legal effort to stop the counting of legitimately cast ballots in Pennsylvania .
Their gambit includes a move to intervene in a pre-election court fight — which the U.S , Supreme Court has already repeatedly declined to get involved in — over the Pennsylvania deadline for mail ballots to arrive at election offices .
Intervening in that legal dispute , which was initially brought by the state GOP and legislative Republicans leaders , could get the Trump campaign a fast-track to the U.S. Supreme Court , where Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Justice Amy Coney Barrett , could provide the deciding vote to resolve the election .
“ As the President has rightly said , the Supreme Court must resolve this crucial contested legal question , ” Trump campaign deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said in a statement .
“ [ S ] o President Trump ’ s Campaign is moving to intervene in the existing Supreme Court litigation over the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ’ s unlawful extension of the mail-in ballot receipt deadline.
” Additionally , according to Clark ’ s statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ processing of counting ballots — many of which are ballots that did arrive by Election Day .
The Trump campaign claims that its poll watchers aren ’ t being given proper access to observe those procedures — an allegation it ’ s made since the beginning of voting and in other states , though not one that ’ s got them very far in similar lawsuits brought elsewhere .
Clark ’ s statement said that there will be another lawsuit , alleging violations of the Help America Vote Act , because of Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fix certain deficiencies on their ballots .
The dispute over mail ballot deadline had been viewed before the election as the biggest potential source of post-election chaos , as three U.S. Supreme Court justices have signaled their willingness to reject the late-arriving ballots if the court gets the chance to review the case again .
If the high court does , it will also be the first opportunity that Barrett has to weigh in on the case .
But beyond whether Trump has the the Supreme Court votes , it ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Trump win , as Pennsylvania has hundreds of thousands of mail ballots received by Election Day still to count .
What kind of impact the other lawsuits could have is even harder to assess , without seeing the complaints themselves .
In the minutes after the campaign announcement , only the Supreme Court motion had been available publicly .
Furthermore , it ’ s not yet clear that the election will come down to Pennsylvania .
It ’ s worth noting that that the new Trump campaign Supreme Court request , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statement was released , is only a procedural move so far .
The campaign didn ’ t add much to the substance of the dispute , in which Republicans are arguing that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court violated the U.S. Constitution in extending the ballot receipt deadline .
Nothing in the filing urged the court to consider taking up the case any faster than they would have with just Pennsylvania Republican requests before it .
Pennsylvania election officials will likely spend several days counting the ballots , a reality that was long seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s refusal to adjust the counting timeline for the pandemic surge in absentee ballots .
So the lawsuits could help Trump campaign sow confusion around that tabulation , while stoking evidence-free beliefs among Trump supporters that any election that he didn ’ t win was illegitimate .
“ This is the most important election of our lifetime , and President Trump made clear our path forward last night : ensure the integrity of this election for the good of the nation .
Bad things are happening in Pennsylvania .
Democrats are scheming to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and his team are fighting to put a stop to it .
“ Pennsylvania ’ s unhinged , radical left Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar has tried her hardest to bake in a backdoor to victory for Joe Biden with late , illegal ballots in collusion with the partisan state supreme court .
The United States Constitution is clear on this issue : the legislature sets the time , place , and manner of elections in America , not state courts or executive officials .
As the President has rightly said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contested legal question , so President Trump ’ s Campaign is moving to intervene in the existing Supreme Court litigation over the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ’ s unlawful extension of the mail-in ballot receipt deadline .
The law is on President Trump ’ s side : as the Eighth Circuit just said , to change the ballot receipt deadline is in fact a change of the time , place , and manner of the election—and only a state legislature or the United States Congress can do that under the Constitution .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motion to intervene in Pennsylvania Republican Party v. Boockvar , we are taking two additional critical legal actions today to ensure the integrity of Pennsylvania ’ s election .
We are suing to stop Democrat election officials from hiding the ballot counting and processing from our Republican poll observers—observers whose only job is to make sure every valid ballot is counted , and counted once .
The eyes of the country are on Pennsylvania , but Pennsylvania has kept eyes off of the absentee ballot counting process all along , and that must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Democrat officials forced our observers to stay 25 feet or more from the counting process , leaving no meaningful way whatsoever for our observers to do their jobs .
We are also suing to temporarily halt counting until there is meaningful transparency and Republicans can ensure all counting is done above board and by the law .
“ The Trump Campaign is also suing to stop Pennsylvania Democrats from breaking the very law that helps America vote—the Help America Vote Act ( HAVA ) .
While HAVA requires that states ensure certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , Secretary Boockvar—three days ago—re-wrote Pennsylvania Election Code to abuse her unilateral executive fiat and move the deadline for absentee and mail-in voters to provide missing proof of identification well past the deadline .
Without our action , Pennsylvanians , and possibly all Americans , may be forced to wait yet another several days for the outcome of the election – all because of the Secretary ’ s ridiculous eleventh-hour guidance that directly violates the Election Code .
“ With these key actions , President Trump is telling all Americans he will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ integrity of this election for the good of the nation .
”

The Trump campaign says it’s launching an aggressive, multi-front legal effort to stop the counting of legitimately cast ballots in Pennsylvania.
Their gambit includes a move to intervene in a pre-election court fight — which the U.S, Supreme Court has already repeatedly declined to get involved in — over the Pennsylvania deadline for mail ballots to arrive at election offices.
Intervening in that legal dispute, which was initially brought by the state GOP and legislative Republicans leaders, could get the Trump campaign a fast-track to the U.S. Supreme Court, where Trump has predicted that his brand new appointee, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, could provide the deciding vote to resolve the election.
“As the President has rightly said, the Supreme Court must resolve this crucial contested legal question,” Trump campaign deputy campaign manager Justin Clark said in a statement. “[S]o President Trump’s Campaign is moving to intervene in the existing Supreme Court litigation over the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s unlawful extension of the mail-in ballot receipt deadline.”
Additionally, according to Clark’s statement, the campaign will sue to stop ongoing processing of counting ballots — many of which are ballots that did arrive by Election Day.
The Trump campaign claims that its poll watchers aren’t being given proper access to observe those procedures — an allegation it’s made since the beginning of voting and in other states, though not one that’s got them very far in similar lawsuits brought elsewhere.
Clark’s statement said that there will be another lawsuit, alleging violations of the Help America Vote Act, because of Pennsylvania’s approach to letting absentee voters fix certain deficiencies on their ballots.
The dispute over mail ballot deadline had been viewed before the election as the biggest potential source of post-election chaos, as three U.S. Supreme Court justices have signaled their willingness to reject the late-arriving ballots if the court gets the chance to review the case again. If the high court does, it will also be the first opportunity that Barrett has to weigh in on the case.
But beyond whether Trump has the the Supreme Court votes, it’s also unclear if tossing the ballots would guarantee a Trump win, as Pennsylvania has hundreds of thousands of mail ballots received by Election Day still to count.
What kind of impact the other lawsuits could have is even harder to assess, without seeing the complaints themselves. In the minutes after the campaign announcement, only the Supreme Court motion had been available publicly.
Furthermore, it’s not yet clear that the election will come down to Pennsylvania.
It’s worth noting that that the new Trump campaign Supreme Court request, which was filed around the same time as the statement was released, is only a procedural move so far. The campaign didn’t add much to the substance of the dispute, in which Republicans are arguing that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court violated the U.S. Constitution in extending the ballot receipt deadline. Nothing in the filing urged the court to consider taking up the case any faster than they would have with just Pennsylvania Republican requests before it.
Pennsylvania election officials will likely spend several days counting the ballots, a reality that was long seen coming because of the GOP legislature’s refusal to adjust the counting timeline for the pandemic surge in absentee ballots. So the lawsuits could help Trump campaign sow confusion around that tabulation, while stoking evidence-free beliefs among Trump supporters that any election that he didn’t win was illegitimate.
Read the full Justin Clark statement below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--‘Brooks Brothers Riot’ Redux: GOP Sends Supporters To Swarm MI Vote-Counting Center

Top officials with the Michigan Republican Party and Donald Trump ’ s reelection effort in the state urged supporters to swarm a ballot-counting center in Detroit on Wednesday .
And it appears the supporters did .
Observers said the call for pro-Trump forces to show up in person — a fairly obvious callback to the infamous “ Brooks Brothers Riot ” of the 2000 Florida recount — strained the legitimate ballot-observation process and created a rowdy crowd at the door .
Video from the scene showed stand-offs with elections officials , chanting , and general disruption of the vote-counting process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it would be filing a lawsuit alleging that poll challengers weren ’ t given full enough access to watch the ballot-counting process in Michigan .
The campaign said it was seeking to suspend vote counting .
Around the same time , at the TCF Center in Detroit , Trump supporters heeded calls to rush the location .
“ MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS !
If you can get to the TCF Center in Detroit go NOW !
We need people to watch the vote count , ” Sam Ditzhazy , who claims to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote on Twitter .
“ They are ‘ finding ’ votes for Joe .
Republicans MUST hold the line.
” The assertions piggybacked on the President ’ s own false and misleading claims that Democrats were “ stealing ” the election — when in fact officials were simply counting ballots that had been cast legitimately but had not yet been tallied .
“ Detroit election officials are currently refusing to let the public observe the counting process at the TCF center , ” wrote Drew Thompson not long after Ditzhazy ’ s claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Michigan division of Trump Victory , the joint fundraising group between the Trump campaign and Republican Party .
“ They have padlocked the doors , ” Thompson tweeted .
“ This is a disgrace to the democratic process.
” “ Republican poll challengers blocked from entering the TCF Center in Detroit !
” wrote Laura Cox , chair of the Michigan Republican Party .
“ This is egregious !
” In reality , according to multiple local reports , authorities had closed the doors because the room was at capacity .
Reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challengers seemingly chanting something — perhaps “ stop the count , ” which is what the Trump campaign has sued to do .
Former Michigan Democratic party Chair Mark Brewer told Crain ’ s Detroit Business that there were more than 100 Republican ballot challengers at the TCF Center .
“ They are ill-trained , rude and they don ’ t know what they ’ re doing , but they are here , ” he said .
Journalists on the ground showed the pandemonium outside of the vote-counting center — and the disturbances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well .
At least one poll challenger , perhaps more , was ultimately removed from the room :

Top officials with the Michigan Republican Party and Donald Trump’s reelection effort in the state urged supporters to swarm a ballot-counting center in Detroit on Wednesday. And it appears the supporters did.
Observers said the call for pro-Trump forces to show up in person — a fairly obvious callback to the infamous “Brooks Brothers Riot” of the 2000 Florida recount — strained the legitimate ballot-observation process and created a rowdy crowd at the door. Video from the scene showed stand-offs with elections officials, chanting, and general disruption of the vote-counting process.
#BREAKING: Large, animated crush of “stop the count” protestors trying to push their way into TCF hall in #Detroit where ballots are being counted. They’re being blocked by guards at the door. Pizza boxes are pushed against the window to obstruct view. It’s tense. @NBCNews pic.twitter.com/zFhzd88skX — Steve Patterson (@PattersonNBC) November 4, 2020
The Trump campaign on Wednesday announced that it would be filing a lawsuit alleging that poll challengers weren’t given full enough access to watch the ballot-counting process in Michigan. The campaign said it was seeking to suspend vote counting.
Around the same time, at the TCF Center in Detroit, Trump supporters heeded calls to rush the location.
“MICHIGAN REPUBLICANS! If you can get to the TCF Center in Detroit go NOW! We need people to watch the vote count,” Sam Ditzhazy, who claims to be a field director for Students for Trump, wrote on Twitter. “They are ‘finding’ votes for Joe. Republicans MUST hold the line.”
The assertions piggybacked on the President’s own false and misleading claims that Democrats were “stealing” the election — when in fact officials were simply counting ballots that had been cast legitimately but had not yet been tallied.
“Detroit election officials are currently refusing to let the public observe the counting process at the TCF center,” wrote Drew Thompson not long after Ditzhazy’s claim. Thompson is deputy state director for the Michigan division of Trump Victory, the joint fundraising group between the Trump campaign and Republican Party.
“They have padlocked the doors,” Thompson tweeted. “This is a disgrace to the democratic process.”
“Republican poll challengers blocked from entering the TCF Center in Detroit!” wrote Laura Cox, chair of the Michigan Republican Party. “This is egregious!”
In reality, according to multiple local reports, authorities had closed the doors because the room was at capacity.
Reporter Bisma Parvez shared video of several poll challengers seemingly chanting something — perhaps “stop the count,” which is what the Trump campaign has sued to do.
Poll challengers have started chanting something and circling a particular table. With @BridgeDet313 pic.twitter.com/US2Bhyt37H — Bisma Parvez (@BismaPar) November 4, 2020
Former Michigan Democratic party Chair Mark Brewer told Crain’s Detroit Business that there were more than 100 Republican ballot challengers at the TCF Center.
“They are ill-trained, rude and they don’t know what they’re doing, but they are here,” he said.
Journalists on the ground showed the pandemonium outside of the vote-counting center — and the disturbances that some were causing inside the room, as well.
A fairly tense atmosphere here in the Wayne county vote counting hall in #Detroit. Police now controlling access to the hall as number of poll challengers is “well above capacity for both sides” according to an official #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/RvqyCDhqss — Leo Lord-Jones (@leolordjones) November 4, 2020
Poll challengers began pounding on the windows at the Central Counting Board so now officials are taping up the windows. Reporting with @BridgeDet313 pic.twitter.com/bwyDq9gZcw — Bisma Parvez (@BismaPar) November 4, 2020
At least one poll challenger, perhaps more, was ultimately removed from the room:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Trump Camp Gears Up To Fight Over PA Returns

The Trump campaign is prepping for a battle over still-incoming votes in Pennsylvania , as the President seeks to portray legally cast but still untallied ballots as illegitimate .
The President and his associates have sent multiple signals over the past hour that they ’ re moving into position to begin muddying the waters around the state ’ s ongoing count .
At 3:30 p.m. , Eric and Lara Trump will hold a press conference in Philadelphia , the campaign announced .
No topic for the presser was provided , but it will also include former Florida Attorney General Pam @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Philadelphia counts the remaining voted-in ballots .
President Trump has spent the past morning sowing confusion about the tally , which has Biden trailing the President by 449,000 votes with an estimated 64 percent of the vote counted , per AP .
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar told CNN on Wednesday that “ there ’ s still over a million ballots left to count ” in the Keystone state .
Vote-counting is taking longer in Pennsylvania after the state GOP refused to pass legislation that would have allowed the state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Multiple Pennsylvania counties also said that they would not begin counting mail-in votes until Nov. 4 , skewing the early , incomplete tally towards ballots cast on Election Day , and , thus , the Republican Party .
Trump appears to have seized on that remark in a bid to imply that the presence of additional votes is somehow illegitimate .
Trump ’ s personal attorney and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is on the case , as well .
Giuliani , who is known for brandishing his legal qualifications in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he was “ en route to Philadelphia with legal team ” and suggested that he was trying to stop “ Philly Democrat hacks ” from stealing the election .
Trump has said that he will seek to invalidate votes that arrive after Election Day .
Early Wednesday morning , the President declared that he had won the election in a bid to cut off counting of votes in states where partial tallies showed him to be ahead , and added that he would go to the Supreme Court to seize a second term @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported on Wednesday that Trump would “ try to invalidate late-counted votes.
” “ His advisers tell us Trump expects lawmakers and the courts to fall in line , ” Axios reported .

The Trump campaign is prepping for a battle over still-incoming votes in Pennsylvania, as the President seeks to portray legally cast but still untallied ballots as illegitimate.
The President and his associates have sent multiple signals over the past hour that they’re moving into position to begin muddying the waters around the state’s ongoing count.
At 3:30 p.m., Eric and Lara Trump will hold a press conference in Philadelphia, the campaign announced. No topic for the presser was provided, but it will also include former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and Corey Lewandowski, and comes as Philadelphia counts the remaining voted-in ballots.
President Trump has spent the past morning sowing confusion about the tally, which has Biden trailing the President by 449,000 votes with an estimated 64 percent of the vote counted, per AP.
They are finding Biden votes all over the place — in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan. So bad for our Country! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2020
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar told CNN on Wednesday that “there’s still over a million ballots left to count” in the Keystone state.
Vote-counting is taking longer in Pennsylvania after the state GOP refused to pass legislation that would have allowed the state to begin counting votes before Nov. 3. Multiple Pennsylvania counties also said that they would not begin counting mail-in votes until Nov. 4, skewing the early, incomplete tally towards ballots cast on Election Day, and, thus, the Republican Party.
Trump appears to have seized on that remark in a bid to imply that the presence of additional votes is somehow illegitimate.
We are winning Pennsylvania big, but the PA Secretary of State just announced that there are “Millions of ballots left to be counted.” — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 4, 2020
Trump’s personal attorney and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is on the case, as well.
Giuliani, who is known for brandishing his legal qualifications in bizarre and incongruous ways, said that he was “en route to Philadelphia with legal team” and suggested that he was trying to stop “Philly Democrat hacks” from stealing the election.
En route to Philadelphia with legal team. Massive cheating.@realDonaldTrump up by 550,000 with 75% counted. Will not let Philly Democrat hacks steal it! — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) November 4, 2020
Trump has said that he will seek to invalidate votes that arrive after Election Day. Early Wednesday morning, the President declared that he had won the election in a bid to cut off counting of votes in states where partial tallies showed him to be ahead, and added that he would go to the Supreme Court to seize a second term before votes had been counted.
Axios reported on Wednesday that Trump would “try to invalidate late-counted votes.”
“His advisers tell us Trump expects lawmakers and the courts to fall in line,” Axios reported.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Trump Campaign To Demand Recount In Wisconsin

The Trump campaign will request a recount in Wisconsin , Campaign Manager Bill Stepien announced on Wednesday .
Out of the gate , Stepien took time in his statement to sow doubt and confusion about the accuracy of the results in the state , where , according to the AP , Joe Biden is projected to win by a margin of slightly more than 20,000 votes .
Stepien baselessly cited vague “ reports of irregularities ” in the state , and referred to “ ridiculous public polling ” as a “ voter suppression tactic ” in making the request .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by a margin of one percent of the total to request a recount , which must be completed within 13 days of the state ordering the tally .
The state will only cover the costs of a recount if the margin falls within less than .25 percent .
As of this writing , the AP has a margin of .62 between the two candidates .
The New York Times estimated that a recount would cost the Trump campaign $ 3 million .
State law also allows Wisconsin election officials to choose the method @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand count or via an electronic tabulator .
The Trump campaign is allowed to ask for a hand recount , so long as it meets a burden of proof for why one is necessary .
Stepien ’ s statement appears to contest the legitimacy of the vote itself , in much the same way that President Trump preemptively declared himself the winner of the election on Tuesday night and ordered the democratic process to be stopped to allow that victory .
Former Wisconsin Gov .
Scott Walker ( R ) noted on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hurdle ” to clear in a state where recounts rarely find huge discrepancies .
Stepien made the announcement within minutes of Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Meagan Wolfe announcing that the state had finished counting , with Biden ahead .
“ Looking at the county websites , every single jurisdiction has submitted unofficial results except one tiny township of less than 300 voters , ” she said on a press call .
Wisconsin last performed a recount in 2016 , the only statewide recount that the state has conducted in a presidential election since 2000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Trump recount petition , Wolfe said that a previous recount had shown that “ we have a really good process , we have a really good system.
” “ There ’ s an incredible paper trail for every single request , registration , and ballot that is cast , ” she added .
Kate Riga and Tierney Sneed contributed to this report .

The Trump campaign will request a recount in Wisconsin, Campaign Manager Bill Stepien announced on Wednesday.
Out of the gate, Stepien took time in his statement to sow doubt and confusion about the accuracy of the results in the state, where, according to the AP, Joe Biden is projected to win by a margin of slightly more than 20,000 votes.
Stepien baselessly cited vague “reports of irregularities” in the state, and referred to “ridiculous public polling” as a “voter suppression tactic” in making the request.
Wisconsin state law allows candidates who trail by a margin of one percent of the total to request a recount, which must be completed within 13 days of the state ordering the tally.
The state will only cover the costs of a recount if the margin falls within less than .25 percent. As of this writing, the AP has a margin of .62 between the two candidates.
The New York Times estimated that a recount would cost the Trump campaign $3 million.
State law also allows Wisconsin election officials to choose the method of the recount, be it a hand count or via an electronic tabulator. The Trump campaign is allowed to ask for a hand recount, so long as it meets a burden of proof for why one is necessary.
Stepien’s statement appears to contest the legitimacy of the vote itself, in much the same way that President Trump preemptively declared himself the winner of the election on Tuesday night and ordered the democratic process to be stopped to allow that victory.
Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) noted on Twitter that 20,000 votes is a “high hurdle” to clear in a state where recounts rarely find huge discrepancies.
After recount in 2011 race for WI Supreme Court, there was a swing of 300 votes. After recount in 2016 Presidential race in WI, @realDonaldTrump numbers went up by 131. As I said, 20,000 is a high hurdle. #Election2020 https://t.co/CEr82eiCWH — Scott Walker (@ScottWalker) November 4, 2020
Stepien made the announcement within minutes of Wisconsin Elections Commissioner Meagan Wolfe announcing that the state had finished counting, with Biden ahead.
“Looking at the county websites, every single jurisdiction has submitted unofficial results except one tiny township of less than 300 voters,” she said on a press call.
Wisconsin last performed a recount in 2016, the only statewide recount that the state has conducted in a presidential election since 2000.
When asked about the potential of a Trump recount petition, Wolfe said that a previous recount had shown that “we have a really good process, we have a really good system.”
“There’s an incredible paper trail for every single request, registration, and ballot that is cast,” she added.
Kate Riga and Tierney Sneed contributed to this report.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-04--Things Moving Fast: Here’s Where Ballot-Counting Stands In The Key States

With votes still being tallied in several key battleground states , top elections officials told the public Wednesday morning that results in several of them could roll in within a day or two .
In Wisconsin , Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe said in an interview Wednesday that “ all of the ballots have indeed been counted.
” “ We ’ re not seeing that there ’ s any counties that haven ’ t posted their results on their websites , ” she added .
But , she said , the state is “ triple checking ” the results .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a media call that an unofficial tabulation of the state ’ s vote could come within 24 hours .
The state had just over 100,000 ballots left , she estimated .
Later Wednesday , in an interview on CNN , Benson said “ we will have a significant if not full update by the end of today .
That ’ s our hope.
” “ A lot of things can still happen because , again , we ’ re being methodical , ” Benson added .
“ And if we have to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But our hope is , and we ’ ve said this consistently since this morning , that we can get through the vast majority of counts and jurisdictions by the end of today.
” In Georgia , Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he ’ d reminded counties “ to get all of our results counted today.
” “ We ’ re pushing really hard for that , ” he added .
Raffensperger said there were about 200,000 ballots left to be counted , a mix of absentee ballots and 40,000 to 50,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot hadn ’ t been tallied by the end of Wednesday , he said , it was possible that a given candidate would have a wide enough lead that the the count would be fairly conclusive .
In Pennsylvania , Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said Wednesday morning that the counting had been “ incredibly smooth ” and that the state was was “ approaching 50 percent ” of mail-in votes being counted .
Boockvar did not offer a timeline for completing the tabulation .

With votes still being tallied in several key battleground states, top elections officials told the public Wednesday morning that results in several of them could roll in within a day or two.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe said in an interview Wednesday that “all of the ballots have indeed been counted.”
“We’re not seeing that there’s any counties that haven’t posted their results on their websites,” she added.
But, she said, the state is “triple checking” the results.
Michigan
Michigan Secretary of State Joceyln Benson said on a media call that an unofficial tabulation of the state’s vote could come within 24 hours.
The state had just over 100,000 ballots left, she estimated.
Later Wednesday, in an interview on CNN, Benson said “we will have a significant if not full update by the end of today. That’s our hope.”
“A lot of things can still happen because, again, we’re being methodical,” Benson added. “And if we have to go into tomorrow, we will. But our hope is, and we’ve said this consistently since this morning, that we can get through the vast majority of counts and jurisdictions by the end of today.”
Georgia
In Georgia, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he’d reminded counties “to get all of our results counted today.”
“We’re pushing really hard for that,” he added. Raffensperger said there were about 200,000 ballots left to be counted, a mix of absentee ballots and 40,000 to 50,000 early votes.
Even if every single ballot hadn’t been tallied by the end of Wednesday, he said, it was possible that a given candidate would have a wide enough lead that the the count would be fairly conclusive.
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar said Wednesday morning that the counting had been “incredibly smooth” and that the state was was “approaching 50 percent” of mail-in votes being counted.
Boockvar did not offer a timeline for completing the tabulation.
Kate Riga, Tierney Sneed, and Josh Kovensky contributed reporting.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-06--‘Just Pathetic’: Trump Widely Condemned For Wannabe Dictator White House Statement

Within seconds of President Donald Trump wrapping up a rambling statement in which he baselessly claimed that counting votes was actually election theft , he faced a barrage of condemnation from , well , just about everyone .
John Roberts , Fox News ’ White House correspondent , pointed out that the President had simply not presented any evidence for his claims of widespread fraud .
“ We have not seen it , we have not seen the evidence yet ” anchor Brett Baier agreed .
After Trump concluded the strongman spectacle without taking questions from reporters , CNN anchor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for continuing his efforts to delegitimize the election process .
He called Trump ’ s presser “ a sad night ” for the country .
“ What a sad night for the United States of America , to hear their president say that , to falsely accuse people of trying to steal the election , to try to attack democracy that way , with his feast of falsehoods , ” Tapper said .
“ Lie after lie.
” CNN ’ s Anderson Cooper echoed that sentiment , agreeing that Trump ’ s remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper concluded with a reptilian retort to Trump .
“ That is the most powerful person in the world , and we see him like an obese turtle on his back , flailing in the hot sun , realizing his time is over .
But he just hasn ’ t accepted it , and he wants to take everybody down with him , including this country.
” MSNBC cut away from Trump ’ s statement in less than a minute , with anchor Brian Williams noting , “ there are no illegal votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been no Trump victory that we know of.
” The New York Post , part of the broader Rupert Murdoch media empire that is generally sympathetic to Trump , referred to Trump as “ downcast ” in a headline on his statement and pointed out that the votes Trump was so upset about were actually perfectly legal .
“ The President railed against what he called ‘ illegal votes , ’ not acknowledging that the US election is still in progress as legal mail-in votes are being counted and that the 2020 presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared on Election Night due to the coronavirus , ” the Post ’ s Ebony Bowden wrote .
On Twitter , Democrats were up in arms .
Some cheered what they predicted to be Trump ’ s last episode , some gave grave warnings about the future the speech portended .
But in perhaps the clearest mark of how dire Trump ’ s prospects for reelection are , there was a small but resounding denunciation from conservatives .
Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) said there was “ no defense ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) acknowledged the President may be frustrated but pushed back on Trump without directly naming him : Former Sen. Jeff Flake ( R-AZ ) called on his reticent peers to denounce the speech .
Rick Santorum , a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and now a CNN analyst , said the President hadn ’ t presented any evidence for his claims of election fraud , then pointed out the obvious truth : His lead was diminishing as elections officials counted ballots cast by-mail .
“ Democrats voted by mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went away , ” Santorum said .
And a new Republican to the flock said he was “ ashamed ” of the President ’ s behavior .
But perhaps the clearest indication of how this speech , in some ways so like the hundreds Trump has given over the last four years , was still a level above , came from the fact-checker who has been tracking Trump throughout his whole presidency .

Within seconds of President Donald Trump wrapping up a rambling statement in which he baselessly claimed that counting votes was actually election theft, he faced a barrage of condemnation from, well, just about everyone.
John Roberts, Fox News’ White House correspondent, pointed out that the President had simply not presented any evidence for his claims of widespread fraud.
“Perhaps I just haven’t heard about it,” Roberts allowed.
“We have not seen it, we have not seen the evidence yet” anchor Brett Baier agreed.
John Roberts: "I haven't really seen anything that would constitute any kind of flagrant fraud or abuse of the system." pic.twitter.com/dII5WLAQty — Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) November 6, 2020
After Trump concluded the strongman spectacle without taking questions from reporters, CNN anchor Jake Tapper took aim at the President for continuing his efforts to delegitimize the election process. He called Trump’s presser “a sad night” for the country.
“What a sad night for the United States of America, to hear their president say that, to falsely accuse people of trying to steal the election, to try to attack democracy that way, with his feast of falsehoods,” Tapper said. “Lie after lie.”
CNN's Jake Tapper reacts to Trump's shocking White House statement falsely declaring victory: "It's just pathetic" pic.twitter.com/4aLL2mRTtg — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) November 6, 2020
CNN’s Anderson Cooper echoed that sentiment, agreeing that Trump’s remarks were “sad and truly pathetic.” Cooper concluded with a reptilian retort to Trump.
“That is the most powerful person in the world, and we see him like an obese turtle on his back, flailing in the hot sun, realizing his time is over. But he just hasn’t accepted it, and he wants to take everybody down with him, including this country.”
Anderson Cooper compares Trump to "an obese turtle on his back flailing in the hot sun" pic.twitter.com/jyIMBxV4gn — TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) November 6, 2020
MSNBC cut away from Trump’s statement in less than a minute, with anchor Brian Williams noting, “there are no illegal votes that we know of. There has been no Trump victory that we know of.”
Here’s the moment @msnbc cut out of the president at the podium. pic.twitter.com/u0ypkTeFAm — Lauren Peikoff (@laurenpeikoff) November 6, 2020
The New York Post, part of the broader Rupert Murdoch media empire that is generally sympathetic to Trump, referred to Trump as “downcast” in a headline on his statement and pointed out that the votes Trump was so upset about were actually perfectly legal.
Downcast Trump makes baseless election fraud claims in White House address https://t.co/FVM8v1bjq5 pic.twitter.com/FqRzUVSGkd — New York Post (@nypost) November 6, 2020
“The President railed against what he called ‘illegal votes,’ not acknowledging that the US election is still in progress as legal mail-in votes are being counted and that the 2020 presidential race was simply not able to be declared on Election Night due to the coronavirus,” the Post’s Ebony Bowden wrote.
On Twitter, Democrats were up in arms. Some cheered what they predicted to be Trump’s last episode, some gave grave warnings about the future the speech portended.
But in perhaps the clearest mark of how dire Trump’s prospects for reelection are, there was a small but resounding denunciation from conservatives.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) said there was “no defense” for Trump’s comments:
There is no defense for the President’s comments tonight undermining our Democratic process. America is counting the votes, and we must respect the results as we always have before. No election or person is more important than our Democracy. https://t.co/BOO2iaTsEf — Larry Hogan (@LarryHogan) November 6, 2020
Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) acknowledged the President may be frustrated but pushed back on Trump without directly naming him:
Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), a sometimes Trump critic, called the President’s antics “insane.”
We want every vote counted, yes every legal vote (of course). But, if you have legit concerns about fraud present EVIDENCE and take it to court. STOP Spreading debunked misinformation… This is getting insane. — Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) November 6, 2020
Former Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) called on his reticent peers to denounce the speech.
No Republican should be okay with the President’s statements just now. Unacceptable. Period. — Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) November 6, 2020
Rick Santorum, a former U.S. senator from Pennsylvania and now a CNN analyst, said the President hadn’t presented any evidence for his claims of election fraud, then pointed out the obvious truth: His lead was diminishing as elections officials counted ballots cast by-mail.
“Democrats voted by mail, that’s why your lead went away,” Santorum said.
"Democrats voted by mail, that's why your lead went away." pic.twitter.com/aKtOPrTXWs — Matt Shuham (@mattshuham) November 6, 2020
And a new Republican to the flock said he was “ashamed” of the President’s behavior.
As a Republican who just won in a Blue district, I am embarrassed and ashamed by what I just heard from POTUS. — William Cogswell (@CogswellWilliam) November 6, 2020
But perhaps the clearest indication of how this speech, in some ways so like the hundreds Trump has given over the last four years, was still a level above, came from the fact-checker who has been tracking Trump throughout his whole presidency.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-06--Trump Declares War On American Democracy

In a last-minute press conference Thursday evening , President Trump directed his full ire at the last bonds holding American democracy together : the integrity of the vote .
Sowing doubt about the fairness of the election for his political benefit from the presidential pulpit , President Trump said , “ if you count the legal votes , I easily win.
” He added , almost predictably : “ If you count the illegal votes , they can try to steal the election from us.
” The President ’ s affect at the presser was mostly listless , projecting a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the situation .
But his claims are incredibly corrosive to the core of American democracy : that both parties to an election respect the process and its results , allowing a shared sense of reality and legitimacy regardless of who wins and who loses .
Trump has spent the past few days stomping that concept into the ground , holing up in the White House to deride the election as “ illegitimate ” through surrogates , twitter , and , Thursday evening , a press conference , at which he appeared for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Specifically , President Trump has been trying to argue that votes from Democratic-majority areas are fraudulent , and that the slow counting of mail-in ballots represents some kind of a conspiracy .
Though there is no evidence to support any of these claims , and many news networks cut away while he was speaking , millions will believe the President , and will spend years thinking that the 2020 election was somehow stolen .
Trump , himself , is the first President to use the position of his office to cast doubt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there , creating a deep fissure in the American body politic .
“ I challenge Joe and every Democrat to clarify that they only want legal votes , because they talk about votes and I think they should use the word legal , legal votes , ” Trump said .
President Trump is playing on years of fear-mongering by the GOP around the myth of widespread voter fraud , but is taking it both to a new level and , arguably , its logical conclusion by stating that the entire system is corrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ mail-in ” voting in particular as being the source of much of the delays and uncertainty around the tally .
Of course , Trump has done more than anyone to sow doubt in the process .
He ’ s also been abetted in that by Republican state legislators who refused to enact minor reforms that would have sped up the counting process , giving Trump these critical extra days to take a sledgehammer to public confidence in the election .
Trump also cast completed vote tallies in many states showing a Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ certain states ” — not an objective fact stemming from the decision of millions of voters .
He added that he had won both Michigan and Wisconsin — two states that have finished counting and definitively gone for Joe Biden .
The only body that could decide the process now , Trump added , would be the Supreme Court .
“ We can both claim the states but , ultimately , I have a feeling judges are going to have to play a role , ” Trump said .
For Trump , anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ We can ’ t have an election stolen like this , ” the President said , as hundreds of thousands of votes from Democratic areas remain outstanding .
His remarks are likely to deepen the extreme polarization that led to his own election , creating a constituency of voters who believe that a potential Joe Biden administration is inherently illegitimate and lacks any sort of popular mandate .
It also comes as Trump ’ s son and others suggest that the President , should he lose , may run again in 2024 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had “ won many critical states , ” though the states that are critical for his re-election — Pennsylvania , Nevada , Arizona , and Georgia — are all slipping out of his reach .
“ It ’ s amazing how mail-in ballots are so one-sided , ” Trump added .
His remarks — casting doubt on the integrity of the election and the processes that went into it — were long expected , and follow on years of similarly irresponsible behavior .
But in stranding millions of his own voters in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was stolen , Trump has dropped a bomb in the country ’ s political system , leaving the U.S. with a constituency primed to disbelieve in the basic fabric of our democracy .
“ There have been a lot of shenanigans , ” Trump said , “ and we can ’ t stand for that in our country .
”

In a last-minute press conference Thursday evening, President Trump directed his full ire at the last bonds holding American democracy together: the integrity of the vote.
Sowing doubt about the fairness of the election for his political benefit from the presidential pulpit, President Trump said, “if you count the legal votes, I easily win.”
He added, almost predictably: “If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us.”
The President’s affect at the presser was mostly listless, projecting a lack of energy and apparent exhaustion with the situation. But his claims are incredibly corrosive to the core of American democracy: that both parties to an election respect the process and its results, allowing a shared sense of reality and legitimacy regardless of who wins and who loses.
Trump has spent the past few days stomping that concept into the ground, holing up in the White House to deride the election as “illegitimate” through surrogates, twitter, and, Thursday evening, a press conference, at which he appeared for the first time in more than 24 hours.
Specifically, President Trump has been trying to argue that votes from Democratic-majority areas are fraudulent, and that the slow counting of mail-in ballots represents some kind of a conspiracy.
Though there is no evidence to support any of these claims, and many news networks cut away while he was speaking, millions will believe the President, and will spend years thinking that the 2020 election was somehow stolen. Trump, himself, is the first President to use the position of his office to cast doubt on the very process that delivered him there, creating a deep fissure in the American body politic.
“I challenge Joe and every Democrat to clarify that they only want legal votes, because they talk about votes and I think they should use the word legal, legal votes,” Trump said.
President Trump is playing on years of fear-mongering by the GOP around the myth of widespread voter fraud, but is taking it both to a new level and, arguably, its logical conclusion by stating that the entire system is corrupt and irredeemable.
The President singled out “mail-in” voting in particular as being the source of much of the delays and uncertainty around the tally. Of course, Trump has done more than anyone to sow doubt in the process.
He’s also been abetted in that by Republican state legislators who refused to enact minor reforms that would have sped up the counting process, giving Trump these critical extra days to take a sledgehammer to public confidence in the election.
Trump also cast completed vote tallies in many states showing a Biden victory as the Democrat simply “claiming certain states” — not an objective fact stemming from the decision of millions of voters.
He added that he had won both Michigan and Wisconsin — two states that have finished counting and definitively gone for Joe Biden.
The only body that could decide the process now, Trump added, would be the Supreme Court.
“We can both claim the states but, ultimately, I have a feeling judges are going to have to play a role,” Trump said.
For Trump, anything short of a victory is theft.
“We can’t have an election stolen like this,” the President said, as hundreds of thousands of votes from Democratic areas remain outstanding.
His remarks are likely to deepen the extreme polarization that led to his own election, creating a constituency of voters who believe that a potential Joe Biden administration is inherently illegitimate and lacks any sort of popular mandate.
It also comes as Trump’s son and others suggest that the President, should he lose, may run again in 2024.
Trump added, baselessly, that he had “won many critical states,” though the states that are critical for his re-election — Pennsylvania, Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia — are all slipping out of his reach.
“It’s amazing how mail-in ballots are so one-sided,” Trump added.
His remarks — casting doubt on the integrity of the election and the processes that went into it — were long expected, and follow on years of similarly irresponsible behavior.
But in stranding millions of his own voters in an alternate reality in which the election was stolen, Trump has dropped a bomb in the country’s political system, leaving the U.S. with a constituency primed to disbelieve in the basic fabric of our democracy.
“There have been a lot of shenanigans,” Trump said, “and we can’t stand for that in our country.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-05--We Might Be About To Find Out Who Was On Trump’s Second-Term Purge List—Even If He Loses

It now seems possible that , win or lose the election , President Trump is thinking about firing a number of top officials who have long been within his crosshairs .
There have been murmuring for several weeks about who Trump might replace if he wins a second term .
But as the odds that former Vice President Joe Biden will win the election steadily increase , some of that chatter has only gotten louder .
Earlier Thursday , NBC News reported that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper — a top name on the list of people Trump reportedly wants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resignation letter .
( The Pentagon denies the report . )
Hours later , Politico followed up with a report that — in a bid to look as “ presidential ” while he tries to stave off defeat — Trump is plotting to fire some Cabinet officials , including potentially Esper or FBI Director Chris Wray .
Here are some of the people who were reportedly on Trump ’ s second term purge list : FBI Director Chris Wray : Trump ’ s FBI Director , per the Daily Beast , is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the President ’ s chopping block .
Among Wray ’ s sins against the President are his refusal to endorse Trump ’ s bogus claims about voter fraud as well as Wray ’ s willingness to acknowledge the reality that far-right white nationalist-motivated violence is a national security threat to the country .
In some ways , it ’ s remarkable that Wray — who was named to the post in June 2017 as the permanent replacement to James Comey — has lasted this long .
His FBI has not backed away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from what we can tell publicly , he ’ s also mostly resisted pressure from Trump to go after his enemies .
CIA Director Gina Haspel : Trump ’ s reported disdain for Haspel has percolated somewhat under the radar , but according to Axios , the President is fed up with the way Haspel has stood in the way of his plots to politicize U.S. intelligence .
A longtime intelligence officer before her ascent up CIA hierarchy , Haspel ’ s controversial involvement with so-called black sites didn ’ t win her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the career CIA rank and file breathed a sigh of relief when Trump named her to the current post .
If she ’ s pushed out , expect Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to up the ante on his game of declassifying sensitive documents to further the President ’ s crusade against the “ Deep State.
” Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Azar : Azar had made powerful enemies within the administration even before the White House ’ s bungling of the COVID-19 response became a political thorn in Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sought to shift away blame for mismanagement of the pandemic has made his tenuous position within the Cabinet even more so .
His leadership atop HHS has been dogged by a longstanding rivalry with Seema Verma , the administrator of HHS ’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who benefits from close ties with Vice President Pence .
Defense Secretary Mark Esper : Earlier this year , Esper did the unthinkable : he signaled some discomfort with the fact that he was used as a political prop for a disastrous Trump photo shoot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been violently cleared of peaceful protestors .
That and the former Raytheon ’ s lobbyist ’ s public opposition to invoking the Insurrection Act to clamp down on civil unrest has made Esper — or Mr. Yesper , as Trump derisively called him — a dead man walking , the New York Times reported last month .
A curious op-ed in a defense industry rag praising Esper ’ s tenure was widely seen as a job application for Esper ’ s next private sector gig once he ’ s inevitably ousted from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A DeVos departure from the administration will likely lack the fireworks that would accompany the firing of any of the other top officials who have wound up in the President ’ s crosshairs .
But privately , according to Politico , she and the President have never really clicked , so she might not last long if Trump goes on the warpath .
Attorney General Bill Barr : Sometimes too much is just not enough .
From his preemptive spin of special counselor Robert Mueller ’ s report to how he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a political agenda designed to boost Trump ’ s reelection , it ’ s hard to imagine a more loyal warrior than the attorney general .
But Barr ’ s failure to deliver before-the-election indictments of Trump ’ s political opponents , as well as to publicize findings from the Barr-ordered review of the Russia investigation , has put Trump ’ s third attorney general on thin ice .
It ’ s never a good sign when the President is complaining about you to conservative media .

It now seems possible that, win or lose the election, President Trump is thinking about firing a number of top officials who have long been within his crosshairs. There have been murmuring for several weeks about who Trump might replace if he wins a second term. But as the odds that former Vice President Joe Biden will win the election steadily increase, some of that chatter has only gotten louder.
Earlier Thursday, NBC News reported that Secretary of Defense Mark Esper — a top name on the list of people Trump reportedly wants to ax — had already drafted a resignation letter. (The Pentagon denies the report.) Hours later, Politico followed up with a report that — in a bid to look as “presidential” while he tries to stave off defeat — Trump is plotting to fire some Cabinet officials, including potentially Esper or FBI Director Chris Wray.
Here are some of the people who were reportedly on Trump’s second term purge list:
FBI Director Chris Wray: Trump’s FBI Director, per the Daily Beast, is likely to be one of the first heads on the President’s chopping block. Among Wray’s sins against the President are his refusal to endorse Trump’s bogus claims about voter fraud as well as Wray’s willingness to acknowledge the reality that far-right white nationalist-motivated violence is a national security threat to the country. In some ways, it’s remarkable that Wray — who was named to the post in June 2017 as the permanent replacement to James Comey — has lasted this long. His FBI has not backed away from investigations into Trump allies and, from what we can tell publicly, he’s also mostly resisted pressure from Trump to go after his enemies.
CIA Director Gina Haspel: Trump’s reported disdain for Haspel has percolated somewhat under the radar, but according to Axios, the President is fed up with the way Haspel has stood in the way of his plots to politicize U.S. intelligence. A longtime intelligence officer before her ascent up CIA hierarchy, Haspel’s controversial involvement with so-called black sites didn’t win her many supporters among Democrats, even as the career CIA rank and file breathed a sigh of relief when Trump named her to the current post. If she’s pushed out, expect Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to up the ante on his game of declassifying sensitive documents to further the President’s crusade against the “Deep State.”
Health and Human Services Secretary Alexander Azar: Azar had made powerful enemies within the administration even before the White House’s bungling of the COVID-19 response became a political thorn in Trump’s side. The way Azar has sought to shift away blame for mismanagement of the pandemic has made his tenuous position within the Cabinet even more so. His leadership atop HHS has been dogged by a longstanding rivalry with Seema Verma, the administrator of HHS’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services who benefits from close ties with Vice President Pence.
Defense Secretary Mark Esper: Earlier this year, Esper did the unthinkable: he signaled some discomfort with the fact that he was used as a political prop for a disastrous Trump photo shoot in front of a church that had been violently cleared of peaceful protestors. That and the former Raytheon’s lobbyist’s public opposition to invoking the Insurrection Act to clamp down on civil unrest has made Esper — or Mr. Yesper, as Trump derisively called him — a dead man walking, the New York Times reported last month. A curious op-ed in a defense industry rag praising Esper’s tenure was widely seen as a job application for Esper’s next private sector gig once he’s inevitably ousted from the government.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos: A DeVos departure from the administration will likely lack the fireworks that would accompany the firing of any of the other top officials who have wound up in the President’s crosshairs. But privately, according to Politico, she and the President have never really clicked, so she might not last long if Trump goes on the warpath.
Attorney General Bill Barr: Sometimes too much is just not enough. From his preemptive spin of special counselor Robert Mueller’s report to how he’s allowed the Justice Department to carry out a political agenda designed to boost Trump’s reelection, it’s hard to imagine a more loyal warrior than the attorney general. But Barr’s failure to deliver before-the-election indictments of Trump’s political opponents, as well as to publicize findings from the Barr-ordered review of the Russia investigation, has put Trump’s third attorney general on thin ice. It’s never a good sign when the President is complaining about you to conservative media.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-05--Bannon Suggests Trump Should Behead Fauci And Wray In Second Term

Despite President Trump ’ s chances of an election victory continuing to shrink , his former chief strategist Steve Bannon has ideas for the President ’ s second term — gruesome and violent ideas , that is , for Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI director Christopher Wray .
During his show “ War Room Pandemic ” on Thursday , Bannon envisioned Trump starting his second presidential term by firing both Fauci and Wray .
While the White House has continued launching efforts to discredit Fauci — which include Trump baselessly accusing the White House coronavirus task force member of being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top infectious disease expert issues dire warnings on surging COVID-19 cases — Wray is reportedly on Trump ’ s purge list if he wins re-election .
The President has privately fumed over Wray for supposedly being a tool of a “ deep state.
” Bannon praised his old boss for being a “ kind-hearted ” and “ good ” man , before spouting his vision of the firing of Fauci and Wray in a second-term Trump presidency , which he described as harkening “ back to the old times of Tudor England ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on pikes , right , I ’ d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats , ” Bannon said .
“ You either get with the program or you ’ re gone — time to stop playing games.
” After Bannon demanded that Trump “ blow it all up ” and place former acting DNI Ric Grenell “ as the interim head of the FBI ” — a move that Bannon said will “ light them up ” — co-host Jack Maxey jumped in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggestions for Fauci and Wray ’ s fate .
Maxey noted the recent anniversary of “ the hanging of two Tories in Philadelphia ” that the country “ used to do to traitors.
” “ These were Quaker businessmen who had cohabitated , if you will , with the British while they were occupying Philadelphia , ” Maxey said .
“ These people were hung.
” Bannon quickly pounced on Maxey ’ s remark by saying “ that ’ s how you win the revolution.
” “ No one wants to talk about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The revolution wasn ’ t some sort of garden party , it was a civil war .
It was a civil war.
” Bannon ’ s remarks on his program appear to be an escalation of his comments during an interview on Fox Business Network earlier Thursday , when he nonsensically declared that the President has already “ won an overwhelming victory ” and urged Trump to “ start acting right now in his second term.
” “ He should fire the FBI director , he should put in process the implement to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Business.
” He should start manning up for his second term with guys like Ric Grenell .
”

Despite President Trump’s chances of an election victory continuing to shrink, his former chief strategist Steve Bannon has ideas for the President’s second term — gruesome and violent ideas, that is, for Dr. Anthony Fauci and FBI director Christopher Wray.
During his show “War Room Pandemic” on Thursday, Bannon envisioned Trump starting his second presidential term by firing both Fauci and Wray.
While the White House has continued launching efforts to discredit Fauci — which include Trump baselessly accusing the White House coronavirus task force member of being a Democrat as the nation’s top infectious disease expert issues dire warnings on surging COVID-19 cases — Wray is reportedly on Trump’s purge list if he wins re-election. The President has privately fumed over Wray for supposedly being a tool of a “deep state.”
Bannon praised his old boss for being a “kind-hearted” and “good” man, before spouting his vision of the firing of Fauci and Wray in a second-term Trump presidency, which he described as harkening “back to the old times of Tudor England”
“I’d put the heads on pikes, right, I’d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats,” Bannon said. “You either get with the program or you’re gone — time to stop playing games.”
After Bannon demanded that Trump “blow it all up” and place former acting DNI Ric Grenell “as the interim head of the FBI” — a move that Bannon said will “light them up” — co-host Jack Maxey jumped in to back up Bannon’s gruesome suggestions for Fauci and Wray’s fate.
Maxey noted the recent anniversary of “the hanging of two Tories in Philadelphia” that the country “used to do to traitors.”
“These were Quaker businessmen who had cohabitated, if you will, with the British while they were occupying Philadelphia,” Maxey said. “These people were hung.”
Bannon quickly pounced on Maxey’s remark by saying “that’s how you win the revolution.”
“No one wants to talk about it,” Bannon said. “The revolution wasn’t some sort of garden party, it was a civil war. It was a civil war.”
Bannon’s remarks on his program appear to be an escalation of his comments during an interview on Fox Business Network earlier Thursday, when he nonsensically declared that the President has already “won an overwhelming victory” and urged Trump to “start acting right now in his second term.”
“He should fire the FBI director, he should put in process the implement to fire Fauci,” Bannon told Fox Business.” He should start manning up for his second term with guys like Ric Grenell.”
Watch Bannon’s remarks below, via Media Matters:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-05--Trumpers Lash Out As Establishment GOP Shoves Them To Arms Length

The President ’ s inner circle threw a public tantrum Thursday as it became clear that establishment Republicans were keeping them at arm ’ s length .
The President , family members and top surrogates have baselessly raged for days that the 2020 election , which appears to be tilting toward Joe Biden , was spoiled by widespread fraud and liberal shenanigans .
But without any evidence to argue their case , Trump ’ s closest allies have found themselves abandoned by the establishment power players upon whom they once relied .
Some Republicans offered milquetoast statements of generalized support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some prodding .
“ The law must be followed , ” wrote former U.N .
Ambassador Nikki Haley after Donald Trump Jr. ’ s complained that “ 2024 GOP hopefuls ” were failing to come to his father ’ s defense .
“ We have to keep the faith that the truth will prevail , ” Haley said .
“ Americans deserve a free and fair election , ” dribbled Sen. Mike Lee ( R-UT ) .
“ While vote counters must be allowed to do their jobs the American people also need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the final count.
” Hardly groundbreaking stuff , and certainly no match for the Trump campaign ’ s multi-front war against legitimate ballot-counting efforts in several states .
The Trumps still had a few friends by their side — and they were keeping tabs .
After spotting a missive from Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) insisting on “ new election integrity laws NOW , ” the President ’ s eldest let the senator know his display of fealty hadn ’ t gone unnoticed .

The President’s inner circle threw a public tantrum Thursday as it became clear that establishment Republicans were keeping them at arm’s length.
The President, family members and top surrogates have baselessly raged for days that the 2020 election, which appears to be tilting toward Joe Biden, was spoiled by widespread fraud and liberal shenanigans.
But without any evidence to argue their case, Trump’s closest allies have found themselves abandoned by the establishment power players upon whom they once relied.
The total lack of action from virtually all of the “2024 GOP hopefuls” is pretty amazing. They have a perfect platform to show that they’re willing & able to fight but they will cower to the media mob instead. Don’t worry @realDonaldTrump will fight & they can watch as usual! — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 5, 2020
Where are Republicans! Have some backbone. Fight against this fraud. Our voters will never forget you if your sheep! https://t.co/jLzOIJbrwV — Eric Trump (@EricTrump) November 5, 2020
“Where is the GOP?! Our voters will never forget…” – @EricTrump NO, THEY WON’T! — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) November 5, 2020
No one is surprised. https://t.co/DZ0GNZMjqG — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 5, 2020
Some Republicans offered milquetoast statements of generalized support for the President, but only after some prodding.
“The law must be followed,” wrote former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley after Donald Trump Jr.’s complained that “2024 GOP hopefuls” were failing to come to his father’s defense.
“We have to keep the faith that the truth will prevail,” Haley said.
“Americans deserve a free and fair election,” dribbled Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT). “While vote counters must be allowed to do their jobs the American people also need a transparent process so they can trust the final count.”
Hardly groundbreaking stuff, and certainly no match for the Trump campaign’s multi-front war against legitimate ballot-counting efforts in several states.
The Trumps still had a few friends by their side — and they were keeping tabs.
After spotting a missive from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) insisting on “new election integrity laws NOW,” the President’s eldest let the senator know his display of fealty hadn’t gone unnoticed.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-11-05--Control Of The Senate Now Appears To Hang On The Georgia Runoffs

Hopeful Democrats , stunned by likely losses in the North Carolina and Maine Senate races , have turned their eyes to Georgia where two January runoffs represent their only chance at retaking Senate control .
Democrat Jon Ossoff , with an assist from the third party candidates , dragged Sen. David Perdue ( R-GA ) under 50 percent as the final votes were tallied mostly from the state ’ s metro areas Thursday afternoon .
Democrat Rev .
Raphael Warnock had secured his place in the runoff on Tuesday , though his path was easier with Republican support split between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Doug Collins ( R-GA ) .
Loeffler ultimately got the Republican bid after a vicious intra-party battle .
With Sen. Doug Jones ’ ( D-AL ) loss , Democrats needed four more seats to get to 50 .
If former Vice President Joe Biden wins the White House , that would leave Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) free to cast the tie-breaking vote .
Democrats successfully toppled incumbents in Arizona and Colorado , leaving them two seats short .
This election has shown Georgia to be a true swing state for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of publishing , former Vice President Biden and President Donald Trump were neck and neck as the final votes were tallied .
Early indications seem to point to demographic change , the increasingly Democratic suburbs and enormous organizing efforts , including by the likes of Stacey Abrams , as factors contributing to the shift .
But despite the purpling of Georgia , Democrats are still the likely underdogs in a runoff .
“ I tend to be pretty skeptical of Democrats ’ chances in Georgia , ” Jeffrey Lewis Lazarus , a political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told TPM .
“ Since 2000 this state has been the Lucy ’ s football of politics for Democrats — they keep getting 47 % , 48 % in statewide races , and every time they think the next time they ’ re going to get over the top .
And it keeps not happening.
” Lazarus said that he thinks a Georgia statewide victory is possible for Democrats only in a blue-wave election — something that has not materialized this time .
“ Democrats have spent 20 years trying to get those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little ground , ” he said .
“ I ’ m not sure this is the year they get over the hump , even if Biden does eke out a win over Trump.
” Another factor adding uncertainty to the runoffs is the lack of a top of the ticket .
Whichever way the presidential election goes , neither Biden nor Trump will be providing any coattails in January .
A potential Biden victory would give an edge to the GOP , according to Dan Judy , Vice President of North Star Opinion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republicans who don ’ t like Trump will be freed up to vote for a Republican candidate without him on the ballot or in the White House , Judy posited .
“ I ’ d say that both Democratic candidates certainly have a chance in the runoffs , but the Republicans will be favored , ” Judy said .
“ Partisans on both sides will be very fired up , but I believe the prospect of divided government will be very attractive to a lot of independents in the state.
” One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be flooded with gobs and gobs of money .
During the 2017 special election in Georgia ’ s 6th congressional district , Ossoff was running against Republican Karen Handel .
Ossoff dominated the first round of voting , but fell short of 50 percent , and Handel ultimately won the runoff .
That race — for just one seat in the House — gobbled up $ 55 million from the candidates and outside groups .
This time , it ’ s two races in the Senate , which are more expensive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the chamber .
The totals could be staggering .
“ I really can ’ t imagine an upper limit to how much money is going to flow into Georgia , ” Lazarus said .
“ Certainly it ’ ll be several hundred million dollars , maybe even an outside shot of breaking a billion when it ’ s all said and done.
” “ I don ’ t want to speculate on exactly how much money will be spent , but it is likely to dwarf anything the state has ever seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Ossoff and Warnock do pull off wins , the Senate will be split right down the middle .
The last time that happened was in 2000 , after the excruciatingly close election between President George W. Bush and Al Gore .
To deal with a tied Senate , which hadn ’ t happened since 1953 , then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle ( D-SD ) struck a power-sharing deal with Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott ( R-MI ) .
They agreed to fill committees with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Republicans , who had the edge when Bush got to the White House , kept the chairmanships and power to convene the committees for hearings and markups .
The arrangement , which worked reasonably well , only ended up holding for about five months , until Republican Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an independent and started caucusing with the Democrats , making Daschle the majority leader .
It ’ s hard to imagine Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-KY ) and Sen. Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) coming to such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uncharted waters .
An evenly split Senate is rare in U.S. history , and has only happened three times before .

Hopeful Democrats, stunned by likely losses in the North Carolina and Maine Senate races, have turned their eyes to Georgia where two January runoffs represent their only chance at retaking Senate control.
Democrat Jon Ossoff, with an assist from the third party candidates, dragged Sen. David Perdue (R-GA) under 50 percent as the final votes were tallied mostly from the state’s metro areas Thursday afternoon. Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock had secured his place in the runoff on Tuesday, though his path was easier with Republican support split between Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA). Loeffler ultimately got the Republican bid after a vicious intra-party battle.
With Sen. Doug Jones’ (D-AL) loss, Democrats needed four more seats to get to 50. If former Vice President Joe Biden wins the White House, that would leave Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) free to cast the tie-breaking vote. Democrats successfully toppled incumbents in Arizona and Colorado, leaving them two seats short.
This election has shown Georgia to be a true swing state for the first time. At the time of publishing, former Vice President Biden and President Donald Trump were neck and neck as the final votes were tallied. Early indications seem to point to demographic change, the increasingly Democratic suburbs and enormous organizing efforts, including by the likes of Stacey Abrams, as factors contributing to the shift.
But despite the purpling of Georgia, Democrats are still the likely underdogs in a runoff.
“I tend to be pretty skeptical of Democrats’ chances in Georgia,” Jeffrey Lewis Lazarus, a political science professor at Georgia State University, told TPM. “Since 2000 this state has been the Lucy’s football of politics for Democrats — they keep getting 47%, 48% in statewide races, and every time they think the next time they’re going to get over the top. And it keeps not happening.”
Lazarus said that he thinks a Georgia statewide victory is possible for Democrats only in a blue-wave election — something that has not materialized this time.
“Democrats have spent 20 years trying to get those last two points and have gained very little ground,” he said. “I’m not sure this is the year they get over the hump, even if Biden does eke out a win over Trump.”
Another factor adding uncertainty to the runoffs is the lack of a top of the ticket. Whichever way the presidential election goes, neither Biden nor Trump will be providing any coattails in January.
A potential Biden victory would give an edge to the GOP, according to Dan Judy, Vice President of North Star Opinion Research, a consultancy for Republican candidates. Republicans who don’t like Trump will be freed up to vote for a Republican candidate without him on the ballot or in the White House, Judy posited.
“I’d say that both Democratic candidates certainly have a chance in the runoffs, but the Republicans will be favored,” Judy said. “Partisans on both sides will be very fired up, but I believe the prospect of divided government will be very attractive to a lot of independents in the state.”
One thing is for certain: the races will be flooded with gobs and gobs of money.
During the 2017 special election in Georgia’s 6th congressional district, Ossoff was running against Republican Karen Handel. Ossoff dominated the first round of voting, but fell short of 50 percent, and Handel ultimately won the runoff. That race — for just one seat in the House — gobbled up $55 million from the candidates and outside groups.
This time, it’s two races in the Senate, which are more expensive to begin with, and would determine control of the chamber. The totals could be staggering.
“I really can’t imagine an upper limit to how much money is going to flow into Georgia,” Lazarus said. “Certainly it’ll be several hundred million dollars, maybe even an outside shot of breaking a billion when it’s all said and done.”
“I don’t want to speculate on exactly how much money will be spent, but it is likely to dwarf anything the state has ever seen,” Judy added.
Ultimately, if Ossoff and Warnock do pull off wins, the Senate will be split right down the middle.
The last time that happened was in 2000, after the excruciatingly close election between President George W. Bush and Al Gore. To deal with a tied Senate, which hadn’t happened since 1953, then-Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) struck a power-sharing deal with Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MI).
They agreed to fill committees with equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans, and both parties got the same staff resources. Republicans, who had the edge when Bush got to the White House, kept the chairmanships and power to convene the committees for hearings and markups.
The arrangement, which worked reasonably well, only ended up holding for about five months, until Republican Sen. Jim Jeffords of Vermont became an independent and started caucusing with the Democrats, making Daschle the majority leader.
It’s hard to imagine Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) coming to such an agreement, though these are largely uncharted waters. An evenly split Senate is rare in U.S. history, and has only happened three times before.