Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus said Sunday that the GOP would reserve the right to demand a recount of the election if it believed that was warranted.
Priebus repeatedly cited the precedent of 2000 when then-Democratic presidential nominee Al Gore refused to concede the race for weeks after Election Day while there was a recount in the key state of Florida.
“You wouldn’t forego a legitimate recount opportunity … like in 2000,” Priebus said during a, appearance on the ABC program “This Week.” Priebus said he didn’t think it was likely the GOP would demand one, arguing that Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump would win Tuesday anyway. But he said the party would weigh its options if it was a “year 2000-type election.”
During the last presidential debate, Trump was asked if he would accept the results on election night. “I will tell you at the time. I will keep you in suspense,” he said. Clinton called the response “horrifying,” adding, “That is not the way our democracy works.”
Trump clarified his thinking at a subsequent campaign stop. “I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election — if I win.”
