Democrats are preparing an immediate strategy to inundate social media and broadcast channels with messages advocating for calm and patience in the vote-counting process should Donald Trump attempt to assert an early election victory, reminiscent of his actions in 2020, according to sources from the Harris campaign and party officials who spoke to Reuters.
This week, the Republican candidate expressed optimism to reporters about declaring victory on Election Day. However, election experts have warned that the final results may only be available for a few days, mainly if calls are for recounts in critical regions. Trump finds himself in a tightly contested battle against Democratic contender Kamala Harris.
In the United States, major media outlets play a crucial role in declaring election winners, relying on analyzing vote counts supplied by election officials. It is rare for candidates to proclaim victory before the official announcements, especially before the outcome is at least somewhat evident.
“We are unfortunately prepared for that possibility, and if it becomes clear that he is indeed manipulating the media and trying to sway public opinion in the United States, we stand ready to take action,” Harris stated during an interview with ABC on Wednesday.
While specifics regarding those preparations remain undisclosed, six officials from the Democratic Party and the Harris campaign indicated that the initial battle against any premature claims of victory by Trump would unfold in the court of public opinion. There are plans to inundate social media platforms and television broadcasts with calls for counting all votes before announcing any victories.
“Immediately following his false declaration of victory, we are prepared to take to television and present the truth, leveraging a wide network of individuals who can utilize their influence to counteract,” stated a senior official from the Democratic National Committee during an interview.
During a conference call with reporters on Friday, a senior official from the Harris campaign stated that they “fully expect” Trump to make a false claim of victory on Tuesday night before the completion of vote counting.
He took this action before its failure. “If he attempts it once more, it is destined to fail,” the official stated.
In the early hours following Election Day in 2020, Trump proclaimed himself the victor three days ahead of the first television networks announcing their results. He ultimately faced defeat against his Democratic rival, Joe Biden. He has consistently rejected the outcome, maintaining unfounded claims that it was taken from him through extensive fraud.
Steve Bannon, a prominent figure in Donald Trump’s inner circle, has urged the former president to announce his victory promptly.
“He should stand up and say, ‘Hey, I’ve won this,'” Bannon remarked to a New York Times reporter on Tuesday, following his release from federal prison, where he completed a four-month sentence for defying congressional subpoenas related to the January 6, 2021 attacks on the U.S. Capitol.
The Trump campaign informed Reuters that the Republican candidate will contest all votes until the polls close. However, it refrained from directly addressing whether Trump would declare victory again before announcing official results.
Bill Bean, a donor to Donald Trump who has occasionally expressed criticism of the former president, conveyed to Reuters his desire for either Kamala Harris or Trump to secure victory by significant margins. He believes this would enhance the likelihood of the results being broadly accepted.
In 2020, Trump’s declaration of victory faced widespread condemnation from Democrats and numerous prominent Republicans. In the aftermath of the election, major stock indices experienced a slight uptick, indicating a muted market response.
However, this instance may present a unique situation.
In the years since, the former president has effectively solidified his dominance over the Republican Party, leading numerous influential conservatives to potentially align with his assertions, according to several political strategists.
“There is ample evidence indicating that he maintains total control over the party, and there is a noticeable absence of any resistance from party officials or elected representatives,” stated Chip Felkel, a veteran Republican strategist who has expressed criticism of Trump.
In recent months, Trump and his Republican allies have been actively preparing to contest a potential electoral loss. They have raised concerns about the possibility of non-citizens attempting to vote for the Democratic Party. They have mobilized a team of lawyers poised to challenge the election results in court.
During his rallies, Trump frequently emphasizes the necessity of ensuring that their victory is “too big to rig.”
