CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former chairmen of the two major political parties in the Mountain State disagree on the comments Donald Trump made during Wednesday night’s debate concerning accepting the results of the Nov. 8 General Election.
Trump told debate moderator Chris Wallace he was taking a wait-and-see attitude about the results.
“I will tell you at the time. I will keep in suspense,” Trump said.
The comments have generated another Trump words controversy across the country. Some fearing he will not concede the election if he loses although campaign staffers say he will.
Former West Virginia Democratic Party Chairman George Carenbauer said during an appearance on MetroNews “Talkline” Thursday that Trump “cost himself the election” with the comments.
“It was a very un-American thing to say,” according to Carenbauer.
Ardent Trump supporter, former West Virginia Republican Party chair, Mike Stuart disagreed. He said Trump should wait and see.
“Because I think there is such a history of corruption across the country in terms of elections. Even here in West Virginia for anybody to say there’s no corruption hasn’t followed the headlines,” Stuart said.
Carenbauer predicts the comments will take away even more support from Trump which the polls have shown has been dwindling in recent weeks.
“Many, many Republicans are saying that that is disqualifying and the election is over,” Carenbauer said.
Given his opponent, Trump has to keep bringing up the rigged election issue, Stuart said.
“Ordinary people out there understand that if you give Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton and the Democrats a free ticket to broaden this election that’s exactly what you’ll have,” Stewart said.
The most recent polling of West Virginia voters shows Trump with a commanding lead over Clinton in the Mountain State. The Global Strategy Group Poll has Trump with 58 percent to 31 percent for Clinton.