Donald Trump’s ability to peel off states President Obama won in 2008 and 2012 left White House spokesman Josh Earnest searching for words on Wednesday.
“There are a lot of people … who voted for Barack Obama in 2008, who voted for his re-election in 2012, who voted for Donald Trump in 2016,” Earnest told reporters. “I don’t have an explanation for that, to put it bluntly.”
Trump carried Ohio, North Carolina, Iowa, Florida, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin in a sweeping and historic election Tuesday night, states that went blue for Obama four years ago, or in 2008.
Asked whether the Republican candidate’s victory amounted to a “rejection” of Hillary Clinton and of Obama’s legacy, Earnest said: “I don’t know if anybody has the direct answer to that question right now.”
“I think certainly all of your networks, and certainly all of you, are going to spend some time pondering that question,” he told reporters. “And maybe even spend some time in those communities across the country where President-elect Trump enjoyed such strong support.”
Earnest went on to commend Clinton for winning the popular vote, an accomplishment that he said underscored “the depth of support and enthusiasm for her message and for her campaign.”
