President Donald Trump flirted with, but ultimately avoided, explicit claims that the 2020 election was rigged during a Wednesday afternoon rally in Marietta, Georgia.
The president’s lack of direct comments on the 2020 election comes after his primetime address last week, in which he accused China of election interference.
“Now we have favored nations, and we pay the lowest prices anywhere in the world from the highest prices, and that alone should win us the midterms,” Trump said Wednesday in his closest comments to alleging election fraud. “But it’s not going to be that easy with the cheating and everything else that goes on, so make it too big to rig.”
“Remember my statement: too big to rig. Make it too big to rig, and watch those machines,” Trump added.
The president likely avoided more direct comments on the 2020 election to avoid boosting Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), who first won a Senate seat in a 2021 runoff election after the president alleged the race was stolen. Ossoff is running for reelection in one of the most important races this cycle that will determine if the GOP can keep control of the Senate.
He also joked about running for president in 2028, although he is constitutionally barred from another term in the White House.
“Thank you very much, everybody,” Trump said. “It’s a special place, and I am here to announce my candidacy — I’m only kidding. I’m only kidding.”
Ahead of the rally, an Ossoff spokesperson predicted Trump would relitigate the 2020 election during his speech.
“As prices keep climbing for families, the failed President is coming to Georgia today to surely repeat his debunked election conspiracies,” Ellie Dougherty, Ossoff’s campaign spokesperson, told the Washington Examiner in a statement. “Republicans dread the President reheating his personal grievances and making it even harder for them in Georgia because they know he will only mobilize voters to rebuke him in November.”
American Bridge 21st Century, a Democratic opposition group, recently circulated research on the various Trump officials who have rejected the claim that the 2020 election was stolen.
“Donald Trump is obsessed with litigating the 2020 election, and the more he focuses on that instead of the needs of families all across the country, the more advantage Democrats like Sen. Jon Ossoff will have heading into November,” said Brandon Weathersby, a presidential communications director with the group, said in a statement.
Trump’s speech in the Peach State was ostensibly about affordability, a key issue dominating the midterm cycle. Yet, the fate of Georgia in November loomed over the president’s visit.
Ossoff has proven to be a formidable candidate for Republicans hoping to flip his seat. He has a 13-point polling advantage over his competitor, Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), according to a recent Fox News survey. Ossoff received 56% support from Georgia registered voters, while Collins received 43%.
The Georgia senator has an overwhelming financial advantage over Collins, according to the latest Federal Election Commission reports.
Ossoff raised $20 million in the second quarter of this year, nearly 10 times the $2.2 million Collins raised in the same period. Ossoff also had $42 million on hand, nearly 21 times Collins’s $2.2 million on hand.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS CONSIDER BUNDLING ‘REAL MANDATORY’ SAVE AMERICA ACT POLICY INTO BUDGET BILL
As the GOP faces a tough cycle this year, Trump appeared more focused on slamming Democrats and making his case to Georgia voters during his speech in Georgia on Wednesday.
“They should terminate the filibuster and approve everything, because the Democrats are going to do it,’ Trump said. “The Democrats are going to terminate the filibuster as soon as they have a chance.”
Continue reading...
[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
