Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, trailing Democrat Hillary Clinton in every poll, unveiled a new campaign strategy on Thursday β simply calling the whole thing off and declaring himself president.
Speaking at an afternoon rally in Toledo, Ohio, Trump argued Clintonβs policies are so terrible that thereβs no point in having an election at all.
βHillary Clinton wants to raise taxes on small businesses, up to 45 percent,β Trump said β a claim previously rated βmostly falseβ by PolitiFact. βWhat a difference this is. Just thinking to myself right now, we should just cancel the election and just give it to Trump, right. What are we even having it for? What are we having it for? Her policies are so bad. Boy, do we have a big difference.β
With less than two weeks before Election Day, polls show Trump losing ground in key swing states, while the race has also tightened in typically solid-red states like Arizona and Texas. Thereβs now a significant chance that Trump may end up the biggest loser in modern presidential elections.
HuffPost Pollster, which aggregates publicly available opinion polls, shows Clinton with a nearly 8-point lead over Trump.
As his poll numbers have dropped, Trump has raised fears of a βriggedβ election and suggested he wonβt accept the results if he loses.
βI will look at it at the time,β Trump said during last weekβs presidential debate. βIβll keep you in suspense.β
First lady Michelle Obama sought to set the record straight during a Clinton rally on Thursday.
βWhen you hear folks talking about a global conspiracy and saying that this election is rigged, understand that they are trying to get you to stay home,β Obama said. βThey are trying to convince you that your vote doesnβt matter, that the outcome has already been determined and you shouldnβt even bother making your voice heard. They are trying to take away your hope.β
Editorβs note: Donald Trump regularlyincitespolitical violence and is a