Trump continues suggesting that the coming election is rigged against him

By Marc Kovac | October 21, 2016 at 12:09a.m.

DELAWARE, Ohio

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump doubled down Thursday on suggestions that the coming election was rigged against him, telling an audience in suburban Columbus that he wouldn’t waive his right to legally challenge the results, if warranted.

“I promise and pledge to all of my voters and supporters and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election – if I win,” he said, adding, “If Al Gore and George Bush had agreed three weeks before the election to concede the results and waived their right to a legal challenge or a recount, there [would have been no] Supreme Court case. ... In effect, I’m being asked to waive centuries of legal precedent designed to protect the voters.”

Trump echoed what he said during Wednesday night’s final presidential debate, saying he was concerned that ballots would be cast by ineligible or even dead voters in favor of his opponent, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

“Hillary Clinton is the most corrupt and dishonest person ever to seek the office of the presidency,” he said, adding later, “Of course, I would accept a clear election result, but I would also reserve my right to contest or file a legal challenge [in the case of] a questionable result.”

Trump spoke to about 1,500 people gathered in a building at the Delaware County Fairgrounds, with others listening from outside, in his first post-debate rally.

The stop came amid near-daily events by his campaign and Clinton’s, as both focus on Ohio, a swing state that will help decide the next president.

Clinton was in the state the day after the previous debate earlier in the month, followed by appearances by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, and her running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine. President Barack Obama also made a stop at an Ohio Democratic Party dinner last week, urging support for Clinton.

Trump was in the state on the same day as the latter, and his running mate, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, stumped for the billionaire businessman earlier this week.

Clinton has scheduled an event in Cleveland today, while Trump and Pence will be in that city Saturday.

Polling has been trending in Clinton’s favor – a Quinnipiac national survey released Wednesday had the former secretary of state up 47 percent-40 percent among likely voters across the country. That compares to a 45 percent-40 percent Clinton lead a couple of weeks ago.

But Trump and Clinton are tied in Ohio, according to a Quinnipiac Poll released Monday.